The all new Škoda Elroq
Words by Mark Slack
Škoda’s founding fathers Václav Laurin and Václav Klement gained their first experience with electrification 116 years ago. In 1908, two electric motors joining forces with a 4.5-litre petrol engine made the Laurin & Klement E the company’s first hybrid. In the late 1930s, electric beer lorries were built in Mladá Boleslav. Between 1991 and 1994, several hundred units of the Škoda Eltra 151L, based on the Favorit and the Pick-up, were sold first in Switzerland and later in other European countries. The modern era of electric mobility at Škoda began in 2011 with the Octavia Green E Line. The engineers built ten prototypes to test the feasibility of electric powertrains. Škoda Auto’s first fully electric production model was the Škoda Citigoe iV launched in early 2020.
The all-new Škoda Elroq is the Czech brand’s first all-electric model in the compact SUV category, with a maximum range of up to 360 miles. Its standard equipment includes a rear-view camera, Blind Spot Detection, 13-inch infotainment and SmartLink. Elroq prices start from £31,500.
Elroq is the latest addition to Škoda’s growing electric portfolio, which will include various new models over the coming years. The compact SUV is the electric alternative to the Karoq and offers list price parity with its ICE counterpart. Available with three different battery sizes and powertrains outputs start at 170 PS for the entry-level Elroq 50 model and the Elroq 85 can achieve a maximum range of 360 miles
The excellent aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of just 0.26 are the result of many clever design tweaks, among them specially moulded exterior mirrors. An active cooling roller blind behind the front apron opens automatically when cooling air is required for the battery system.
The Elroq always comes with a central, 13-inch infotainment display as standard. Drivers can define up to five shortcuts leading to frequently accessed vehicle functions and up to four shortcuts for apps. It is also no longer necessary to authenticate the user on the welcome screen; instead, users are logged in automatically. A physical button bar below the infotainment display provides quick access to menus controlling the assistance systems, driving modes, parking functions and climate controls.
The Škoda Elroq 50 with rearwheel drive and a 55 kWh battery is the entry-level model, offering a range of up to 230 miles. Located on the rear axle, its electric motor develops a peak output of 170 PS and a maximum torque of 310 Nm. The Elroq 60 has a battery capacity of 63 kWh and offers a range of around 260 miles. Its motor develops 204 PS and 310 Nm of torque.
