New Skoda Enyaq Coupe RS Embraces its Heritage.
New Skoda Enyaq Coupe RS Embraces its Heritage.
Skoda has given its fully-electric Enyaq mid-size SUV a mid-life refresh, and the final additions to the new Enyaq family are the Enyaq RS and Enyaq Coupe RS. These high-performance RS models are now the brand’s fastest accelerating and fastest charging production cars, and they build on Skoda’s 26-year RS heritage, which recommenced in the year 2000 with the Octavia RS. The Skoda RS (Rally Sport) badge traces its origins to the 1974 hand-built prototype rally cars, the Skoda 180 RS and 200 RS. The most famous ancestor is the legendary 1975 Skoda 130 RS, which won its class at the 1977 Monte Carlo Rally and claimed the 1981 European Touring Car Championship. Because Ford already owned the “RS” trademark in the UK, Skoda used the vRS badge (Victory Rally Sport) for the British market, while using the standard RS badge in the rest of the world. The famous RS badge brings Skoda’s sporting pedigree to the road, while keeping hold of the thoughtful touches that make Skoda cars so popular with Irish motorists.
Exclusive Sportiness.
The Enyaq Coupe RS offers exclusive features as standard, and key equipment includes sporty 21” bi-tone alloy wheels with aero trims, sport-tuned suspension, electrically-adjustable front seats with memory and massage functionality, panoramic fixed glass roof, Matrix LED headlights with Coming / Leaving Home animations, front & rear parking sensors, full 360 degree camera system, and a second-generation illuminated front grille (Crystal Face 2.0), along with striking RS exterior and RS interior styling packs. Exclusive RS exterior highlights include front & rear sports bumpers, RS badging, black window surrounds, black SKODA lettering, body-coloured door sills, and black decorative trim elements, while RS-specific interior highlights consist of fabric & suede or leather-trimmed upholstery, RS branded front sports seats, aluminium foot pedals, and a dark interior headliner.
Power & Charging Options.
The Enyaq Coupe RS features an electric motor on the front axle as well as one on the rear, making it all-wheel-drive, with a system output of 250kW from the 84kWh (79kWh usable) battery. The aerodynamically-optimised front-end design of the Enyaq RS contributes to the car’s high level of efficiency, and it also has a positive impact on the maximum range, which is up to 560 km on a WLTP combined driving cycle. Charging the battery pack in the RS Coupe from 0-100% can be done via a domestic 7.4kW or 11kW wallbox in 13 hours or 7.5 hours respectively, with a DC fast charge (Max 185kW) from 10-80% possible in just 26 minutes. New for this generation is bidirectional charging, allowing the car to serve as a home energy source – a very useful feature in the event of a power failure, or the likes.
Inspired By Modern Living.
Inside, the RS Coupe offers ‘RS Lounge’ and ‘RS Suite’ interior themes, with contrast stitching providing enhanced visual appeal. A 13” infotainment screen, 5” digital cockpit, and optional augmented-reality head-up display deliver a modern digital experience. Skoda’s signature Simply Clever touches inside include four fast-charging USB-C ports, wireless ‘Phone Box’, and an electrically operated tailgate with hands-free opening via a ‘Virtual Pedal’. The generously-proportioned, upmarket cabin also features an umbrella concealed in the driver’s door, a ‘Jumbo Box’ storage compartment located in the centre console, and an integrated ice scraper for quick winter defrosting. The 2.77m wheelbase in the Enyaq Coupe RS provides the driver and passengers with terrific levels of leg, elbow and head room, so that every journey can be completed in spacious luxury. The cavernous boot in the Enyaq Coupe RS has a floor area of 1m squared, with a volume of 585-litres behind the rear seats, and it comes with a variable boot floor, cable storage bag, cargo restraint system and useful hooks to keep items in place. In terms of safety and driver assistance, features include Travel Assist with Adaptive Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, Plug & Charge compatibility, and Remote Park Assist, allowing smartphone-controlled parking via the MySkoda app.
Test Car Details.
My test car was a Skoda Enyaq Coupe RS, which looked particularly striking in its Steel Grey solid paintwork. The Enyaq Coupe RS is a dynamic performer and, thanks to its 340hp and 679Nm of instant torque, it can complete a 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.4-seconds, on its way to an electronically-limited 180km/h top speed (where permitted). With all-wheel drive as standard, the car feels well-planted and self-assured on the road, and Skoda has provided sport-tuned suspension in order to make the car negotiate corners in a spirited fashion, while also helping with straight line agility. The car’s battery cells are incorporated into the floor, and this lowers the overall centre of gravity, which is important when driving around bends on challenging back roads. The steering is well-weighted and precise in its operation, and this makes manoeuvring in and out of parking spaces a simple chore – a task that is greatly aided by the standard front & rear parking sensors and around-view camera system. The Enyaq Coupe RS takes motorway driving in its stride and, with the provision of ample mid-range punch from the twin electric motors, overtaking slower moving traffic becomes a safe and highly predictable exercise. Regenerative braking maximises efficiency by using the electric motors to recover kinetic energy and recharge the battery when slowing down. The system smoothly transitions between regenerative and physical friction brakes across 3 selectable levels. The strongest setting acts like a ‘one-pedal driving’ experience, although the car will still creep forward slightly at very low speeds rather than coming to a complete stop. Thanks to multiple seat and steering wheel adjustment options, It is easy to find a perfect driving position, and the height-adjustable centre armrest enhances the relaxed driving experience.
Verdict & Pricing.
The new Skoda Enyaq Coupe RS is a truly impressive fully-electric SUV that certainly lives up to its ‘Rally Sport’ name – from its sporty good looks, to its plush and spacious cabin, cavernous boot, and generous equipment tally. It has a respectable real-world driving range, and it has an 1,800kg braked-trailer towing capacity in its standard four-wheel drive format. Pricing for the new Skoda Enyaq Coupe RS starts at €64,990 (including delivery & related charges). A 3-year/150,000km warranty comes as standard, along with a 3-year Roadside Assistance package and an 8-year battery warranty (T’s & C’s apply).
Visit www.skoda.ie for further information.
