Skoda Elroq RS performance SUV confirmed

Skoda has confirmed there will be an RS performance version of the new Elroq electric compact SUV.

Company CEO Klaus Zellmer told Australian media at IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich that having a hero version of the electric Elroq – essentially a next-gen, fully electric take on the Karoq compact crossover – was a vital inclusion for the Skoda brand moving forward.

“You will see an Elroq RS because it delivers the technical package and the optics and this is what we're doing now,” said Mr Zellmer, who ruled out offering anything even more performance-oriented. “Previous to this job I was with the VW brand, and the Golf R, for example, that's too extreme for Skoda. Yeah, we wouldn't go that far.

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Skoda Kodiaq RS

“But if I take the take-rate of RS models for Kodiaq, Octavia and Superb, it's good money,” said Mr Zellmer of the profitability of the speedy sub-brand. I think it's got a good balance between the attractiveness in terms of optics and the drivetrain and its performance,” he said.

Mr Zellmer also confirmed that the brand will offer a new smaller EV model, which will be part of a “family” of four new compact electric models built on the MEB Small platform, which has been developed under the oversight of Spanish brand Cupra.

“We call it the category A0 BEV. We haven't revealed the name yet. And there will be basically four siblings in that family. One is the ID. 2, the ID. 2 ‘X’ SUV, and the [production] Urban Rebel [known as Raval] from Cupra and then our [Skoda] A0 BEV,” he said.

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Cupra Urban Rebel (Raval)

“It's in development. We had the first clinic results which is a representative mix of consumers looking at the car and they were 'super, smashing, great'. I'm quoting what they gave us as feedback. So we're very much looking forward to that car,” he said.

The Skoda small EV is due in 2025, when the Cupra Raval and VW ID. 2, and maybe ID. 2 X will also arrive.

“You know, the cars will be so different. On the same platform, you're gonna see something similar to ID. 4 and Enyaq in terms of how far they set apart and this is really important for us as a group of brands,” he said.

“We haven't always gotten that right. But I think with the new definition of our design languages, we call our design language, modern solid, I think we’re going to separate it,” said Mr Zellmer.

Skoda will launch its first EV, the Enyaq, in Australia in mid 2024, with the model including an RS variant.