While in Prague to get a first-hand glimpse of Skoda’s future direction, we also sampled its first electric RS model.
With the government juggernaut rolling when it comes to vehicular policy and the future of motoring in India, it seems increasingly clear that a large part of our future motoring will involve battery electric vehicles. Sure, there are other technologies available, but as of now, the global scenario itself seems to be tilting towards electrification. Naturally, with India being one of the priority markets for Skoda – especially after the success of the India 2.0 program – has meant that the Czech automaker is also debating about which EVs to introduce into the Indian market. And we got the opportunity to sample the brand’s first all-electric member to get the RS badge – the Enyaq Coupé RS iV.
Shockingly Green
Of course, one of the hallmarks of the Skoda RS brand is the bright colours the cars are often available in, and the Enyaq RS is no different with its Mamba Green paint job. What helps here is the unique design of the Enyaq Coupé. Up front, the design is dominated by the massive grille, which is now illuminated by 131 LEDs and Skoda refers to this as the Crystal Face. The LEDs are bright enough to be visible even in daylight. The stance of the Enyaq is helped by the large 21-inch wheels, which have aerodynamic elements built into them to improve the drag coefficient, and the black highlights that are a trademark of the RS brand. The sides of the Enyaq are dominated by a sharp shoulder line that runs the length of the car, and in true coupé-like fashion, the sloping roof gives the Enyaq Coupé a very distinct design.
Inside the car too, the typical attention to detail of the Czech brand shines through. The all-black interiors are something I love, particularly with the Alcantara trim, and the bright green detailing in the seats and other parts of the interior gives it a lot of character. And the sports seats on this RS variant were absolutely brilliant with their bolster support and overall comfort.
Smooth as Silk
Naturally, the Enyaq Coupé is based on the electric-only MEB platform that underpins a lot of products in the VW Group. And this means that the Enyaq is offered in a myriad of variants with options of rear- and all-wheel drive, as well as different battery capacities and power outputs, to suit different needs. In the full-fat RS version, the Enyaq Coupé comes equipped with all-wheel drive and has a power output of 295bhp with 460Nm. Battery capacity is 82kWh, which should translate to a real-world range between 350 – 400kms on a single charge.
On the road, the Enyaq really impresses. Naturally, being an EV, you start off in near silence, but as you pick up speed, you notice how it also has very little wind noise at speed. Credit goes to the excellent aerodynamics of the Enyaq for that. While in today’s world the 460Nm of torque might not sound like a very high figure, but the fact is, with the total torque available at idle, the Enyaq almost jumps forward if you mash the pedal. The mid-range is superb, whether you’re trying to overtake someone or trying to gain speed, feels more than enough for most drivers.
What impressed me, even more, is how the Enyaq hides its weight when on the move. On a lot of pure EVs, you can immediately sense the mass of the platform and how it affects the dynamics of the car, particularly in sharp corners and when braking. The Enyaq, though, hides this mass very well and is particularly fluid to drive, something we could experience at length on the twisty and narrow roads around Mlada Boleslav. It genuinely feels like a fun-to-drive car, like a genuine RS model should.
Of course, Skoda is still considering which variants of the Enyaq to bring to India but based on what I felt driving it and the feedback the Skoda team received, you can expect the Enyaq Coupé RS to be launched in India in 2023, even if it comes in limited numbers.
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