Skoda’s first electric model on the MEB platform will have almost 500km range and a new techy interior.
Skoda has previewed the interior of its new Enyaq iV SUV, its first electric model built on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, ahead of its unveiling on 1 September.
The new machine, which uses the same underpinnings as the new Volkswagen ID 3, is said to feature a cabin that “reflects modern living environments”. Skoda designers have exploited the MEB platform’s lack of transmission tunnel and long wheelbase to create a cabin that is “visually even airier and to create a feeling of even more space”, the company claims.
New features making their debut on the Enyaq – and which can be expected to appear on future Skoda EVs – include a storage cubby underneath the centre console and a multi-level dashboard. Skoda has also revealed that the SUV will offer 585 litres of bootspace, a 13-inch central touchscreen and a head-up display with augmented reality, and claims that rear passengers will benefit from “exceptionally generous” legroom.
Rear our Skoda Enyaq prototype review here.
The manufacturer also says it has done away with the conventional trim level structure of its current line-up in favour of a range of new ‘Design Selections’, which each use sustainably produced and recycled materials. They will be clearly split into separate ‘themes’ with a range of option packages available additionally.
The Enyaq is due on sale in 2021 and will be a key part of Skoda’s plan to launch 10 electrified models under the iV sub-brand by the end of 2022.
Skoda has confirmed that, similar to other MEB-based machines, the Enyaq will be offered with a choice of rear- and all-wheel drive, three battery sizes and five power outputs. The largest battery will be a 125kW unit giving an official range of 498km.
The Czech firm said the model “combines brand-typical virtues such as a generous amount of space, emotive design and well-balanced proportions with a sustainable yet fun driving experience.” It added that the machine offers similar interior space to the Kodiaq SUV, while being shorter than an Octavia.
The Enyaq nameplate is derived from the Irish name Enya, meaning ‘source of life’, with the use of ‘Q’ matching Skoda’s existing combustion-engined SUVs such as the Kamiq, Karoq and Kodiaq.
The model is based on the Skoda Vision iV concept, which was first revealed in 2019.
James Attwood