Skoda details its upcoming electric SUV

Monday, 11 May 2020

Skoda's upcoming Enyaq electric SUV 'closely resembles' the Vision iV concept revealed at last year's Geneva motor show.

Skoda has revealed a swathe of new details regarding its upcoming electric SUV, the Enyaq.

The Enyaq's name derives from the Irish woman's name Enya but with Skoda flavouring (the letter Q to tie to its other SUVs, the Kodiaq, Karoq and Kamiq – and the 'E' is also referencing electromobility) and it is about the same size as the Superb sedan and the Kodiaq, and will sit in those cars' price band.

The entry-level Enyaq iV 50 will come with a 109kW electric motor mounted on the rear axle while the top end will be covered by a 225kW vRS all-paw model.

You can't see much but the covered grille indicates this is an electric vehicle, which means it must be the new Skoda Enyaq.

Sitting in between is the iV 60, which uses the same motor as the 50 but with a bigger battery, the 150kW rear-drive iV 80 and the 195kW iV 80X all-wheel drive version.

**READ MORE:

When it arrives, the Enyaq will be roughly the size of the Kodiaq.

* Skoda electric SUV likely for NZ

* The performance SUV that helps the kids snooze

Five variants of the Enyaq will be available at launch with three different battery sizes.

* Sunday Drive: Skoda Kodiaq Sportline

* Think of the Skoda Karoq as a baby bear

Three battery sizes will be available. Rear-drive Enyaqs get a 55kWh or 62kWh pack while the two all-wheel drive variants get an 82kWh battery. Skoda says the range for the 55kWh and 63kWh pack are 340km and 390km before adding the iV 80 (non-X) will have the most range of up to 500km.

Meanwhile, the two all-wheel drive Enyaqs will have a maximum range of 460km.

Fast charging was confirmed, with a 125kW DC station powering the Enyac up from nought to 80 per cent in 40 minutes. Home wall boxes can top the battery up in six to eight hours, depending on size.

Performance is yet to be revealed for all models but Skoda did say the vRS will sprint to 100kmh in 6.2 seconds. That's not bad, given its a comparable size to the Kodiaq, which takes 6.9 seconds to hit the open road limit in RS trim. The electric Enyaq is probably a few notches heavier too, given the weighty nature of batteries and other EV-specific equipment.

As for the Enyaq making it to New Zealand, Skoda's head office acknowledged New Zealand as being a market of exceptional opportunity for electric vehicles, which positions us as a top candidate for Skoda's first battery-powered model.

Local boss, Rodney Gillard, said: 'We're sitting down and working through a growth plan with Skoda Auto. We are being tabled as a 'pilot country' and that is being negotiated right now. Electric is our vision and it is also Skoda Auto's vision for us; they see a real opportunity for electric in this country. Nothing has been confirmed, but that is where we are heading.

'If I could pluck something out of the air, my wish list would be to have this (Enyaq) in 2021, but we will have to wait and see.'