Skoda Elroq RS and Enyaq Coupé RS: Two letters that promise fun

Maybe I enjoy RS models so much because we are both the same age? The RS story at Skoda also began in 1974. Unlike in our family of journalists, RS does not stand for Ruedi Stettler, which is my father's abbreviation, but simply for "Rally Sport". At the time, it adorned the Skoda 180 RS and 200 RS rally prototypes. Thanks to their success in motorsport in the late 1970s and 1980s, the RS abbreviation became a symbol of dynamism and, from 2000 onwards, adorned the versions of various Skoda models designed for pure sportiness - from the popular Octavia RS to the compact power cube Fabia RS and the mighty SUV Kodiaq RS.

Ride in the New Enyaq RS Race
These two letters are no longer just reserved for combustion engines, but also adorn the Elroq RS, Enyaq RS and Enyaq Coupé RS, i.e. three electric SUVs - and even a motorsport prototype, the New Enyaq RS Race. The latter is available to us for an exclusive drive. While I adjust my fireproof balaclava and squeeze into my rally helmet, Czech driver Jan Kopecký sits ready to go in the prototype, which weighs 1946 kilograms and is 316 kilograms lighter than the standard model.

A clearly wider track (7.2 centimetres at the front, 11.6 centimetres at the rear), seven centimetres less ground clearance compared to the standard Enyaq and a powerful rear wing for plenty of downforce promise a cool ride, as do 250 kW/340 hp. As soon as the six-point seat belt is fastened in the Atech Racing sports seat, we're off. The eleven-time Czech rally champion accelerates, I am pressed into the seat. Off we go onto the closed-off track. Nice - but somehow the familiar RS sound is missing. Kopecký laughs and says dryly: "I miss it too!" It remains a short ride, because the RS Race lacks the necessary electric power for entire rally days. And before we get stuck in rural Central Bohemia, I'd rather get back behind the wheel myself in the production versions.

Elroq RS or Enyaq Coupé RS?
You can choose between the Enyaq Coupé RS or the more compact Elroq RS. In the Enyaq, the performance of an electric SUV with 250 kW/340 hp now meets a sporty silhouette with a gracefully sloping rear and 570 to 1004 liters of storage space underneath. The SUV coupé sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, and thanks to an 84 kWh battery, the WLTP range is up to 560 kilometers. Although we like the sleeker Enyaq variant, we are even more interested in the new Elroq with sports genes. The latest, smaller addition to the RS family is also pushed forward by two electric motors and has the same performance as the Enyaq Coupé. The compact SUV is also a good sprinter, can reach speeds of up to 180 km/h and quickly recharges with 185 kW at the DC fast charger - from 10 to 80 percent in just 26 minutes.

Sporty, but suitable for everyday use
The sporty handling and direct steering of the Elroq RS are also great fun: the all-wheel drive Skoda is just as nimble on the slalom course on the closed track as it is later on the streets of Prague. The sports suspension (standard) with its adaptive damper setting impresses with its wide range depending on the driving mode. The 4.49-metre-long and 1.88-metre-wide SUV is just as good at dynamic cornering as it is at ironing out bumps on the sometimes very rough roads in Central Bohemia.

The quietly gliding Elroq RS also knows how to impress with its suitability for everyday use. There are 470 to 1580 liters of storage space under the electric tailgate, and there is plenty of leg and headroom in the rear. The brand-typical "Simply Clever" details such as the umbrella in the driver's door or the ice scraper in the trunk are also practical. The Czech car also looks good; the black-painted body details such as door handles, side mirrors and rear roof spoiler, the RS-exclusive alloy wheels with up to 21 inches and the sporty interior with high-quality materials and contrasting colored stitching are very appealing. At 51,690 Swiss francs, the compact electric sports car also has a price that doesn't spoil the fun completely.