DRIVEN Skoda Enyaq iV Coupé
● Faster-charging capabilities ● Excellent room in the rear
DESPITE dabbling with coupés in the past, Skoda is now better known for its practical hatchbacks, cavernous estates and, more recently, spacious SUVs than anything really stylish or sporty. But in its quest for sales the Czech car maker is gearing up to launch a Coupé version of its electric Enyaq SUV this year.
It’ll offer the same battery and motor combinations as the regular Enyaq, which means a choice of iV 60 (58kWh, 177bhp) and iV 80 (77kWh, 201bhp) models, plus a range-topping 261bhp iV 80x with all-wheel drive. A vRS version is planned, too.
To get a taste of what’s in store, we were given the chance to try a camouflaged version of the 4.65m-long Skoda on European roads. Identical to the standard car from nose to B-pillars, its rakish roof line and the changes inside are the big news. Every version gets a panoramic glass roof with heat-reflecting properties, while only those over six-feet tall will find their heads brushing the roof. Knee room in the rear is particularly generous and the MEB platform’s flat floor means even those in the middle can get comfortable.
The boot shrinks by 15 litres to 570 litres in the Coupé, with a deep well perfect for the charging cables. Speaking of which, Skoda says that developments in battery tech mean that the Enyaq Coupé will launch with faster peak charging. Skoda hasn’t yet confirmed charge times, but we can expect the Coupé to better the Enyaq’s current 125kW maximum, as well as reduce the 10-80 per cent charge time of 34 minutes.
On the move the Coupé is near-enough indistinguishable from the SUV; refinement is excellent and while the suspension feels firm, it’s never uncomfortable. Performance is satisfactory; you still get that instant hit of torque, but it tails off at higher speeds.
Prices and specs will be revealed when the production car arrives in December, but we expect the Coupé to command roughly a five per cent premium over the standard SUV, starting from around £33,500. PAGE 22: Celebrating 20 years of vRS