The Czech company attracted our attention with grilling crystal face in the Enyaq IV and Enyaq Coupé iV models, which greets us with 131 LEDs located on the vertical bars. However, with ADAS systems gradually becoming more prominent and connected and autonomous vehicles set to receive a major boost, skoda want to go a step further.

In an effort to make vehicles safer for all road users, automakers had to find a way around that Vehicles communicate with pedestrians. In that context, Škoda has developed the concept of an illuminated grille for the Enyaq iV, which indicates to pedestrians whether or not it is safe to cross the road.

How does a Škoda grill work?

The prototype grille developed by the car manufacturer consists of a illuminated panel with programmable LED strips which occupies the same space as the grid crystal face optional Enyaq iV. When a vehicle approaches a crosswalk, it displays an animated graphic, allowing pedestrians to be aware of its presence.

When it slows down, the grill is visible a figure walking next to the green arrow so that pedestrians know that this is the right time to cross the road. When the vehicle will accelerate again, the grid changes to a red background with triangles warning signs to prevent pedestrians from continuing to cross. The same thing happens if the vehicle does not want to brake.

This special programmable grill for now it is a prototype, but the Czech company is confident in its usefulness, so that in the near future, as technology advances, we may see it in production models with the aim of reducing accidents. Notably, this project is part of a larger testing program in the UK.