First Skoda EV to be an SUV named Enyaq

SKODA has revealed its first all-electric production car will be an SUV built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, set to be badged and sold as the Enyaq.

 

While Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) declined to comment on the possibility of the Enyaq making it to Australia, GoAuto understands the Enyaq will have a reasonable chance of making it Down Under given VGA’s plan to forego hybrids and pursue the local introduction of fully electric vehicles.

 

Almost no other details besides the vehicle’s nameplate have been revealed, though a few educated guesses can be made by examining the Vision iV concept car presented at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.

 

In all of its yellow goodness, the Vision iV was undeniably an SUV but sported a sloping, coupe-like roofline not dissimilar to that of the Porsche Cayenne Coupe or even the Lamborghini Urus.

 

Despite the coupe body style however, Skoda claimed 550 litres of boot space was on offer.

 

Dimension-wise, the concept car measured 4665mm long, 1926mm wide, 1613mm tall and sat on a 2765mm wheelbase (built on the MEB platform), meaning it was just 32mm shorter overall than the seven-seat Kodiaq but 44mm wider.

 

In the announcement of the Enyaq nameplate, Skoda said the new model would express “both power and efficiency” – the Vision iV was said to produce 225kW and had a claimed range of up to 500km.

 

Skoda board member Alain Favey said the choice to make the brand’s first EV an SUV was a simple one.

 

“It is the first Skoda model built as an electric car from the very beginning, which means a real breaking point for the whole company,” he said.

 

“And we also want to extend eMobility among the largest possible group of customers, thus we are aiming for this most popular car segment.

 

“We do not even have a direct competitor in the segment we are entering with our new electric SUV.”

 

Other hints and clues as to the new Enyaq’s character can be drawn from the European spec Audi e-tron 50 which is built on the same MEB platform.

 

Power (230kW/540Nm) comes courtesy of two electric motors – one on each axle – which can propel the car for up to 300km before the 71kWh lithium-ion battery is flat.

 

The e-tron 50 weighs in at 2445kg which goes some way in explaining its mediocre (for the power) 7.0-second dash from 0-100kmh.

 

Neither Skoda or VGA could confirm when the new Enyaq will officially break cover or hit showrooms.