► Fastest production Skoda ever
► 335bhp, sporty styling, honed chassis
► 340 miles of WLTP range
There was a time when it would seem ridiculous that the fastest thing in a car manufacturer’s range would be a mid-size SUV, but such is the world electrification has created. Case in point: the newly revealed electric Skoda Elroq vRS is the fastest production Skoda ever, whipping from 0-62mph in just 5.4 seconds. For comparison, the latest Octavia vRS takes a leisurely 6.4 seconds.
It’s to be expected. Mid-size electric SUVs are rapidly becoming the default option for many car buyers, some of whom still want a sporty looking car with a rapid turn of pace. Given Skoda’s habit of vRS-ing most of its cars, it was inevitable the really rather good Elroq would receive the treatment.
How the Elroq was vRS’d
Two electric motors power the Elroq vRS – one each for the front and rear wheels. Together they produce 335bhp and an unspecified, probably fairly significant amount of torque. That 5.4 second 0-62mph time is the result; top speed is 111mph.
The chassis is suitably uprated to cope with the extra power. The car sits on sports suspension that’s 15mm lower at the front and 10mm lower at the rear. The steering is retuned as well, and the drive modes include a traction mode that takes advantage of the all-wheel drive set up.
DCC adaptive suspension is available as an option. With it, the standard driving modes are reconfigured for “even better comfort,” says Skoda, and individual mode allows the driver to cycle through 15 damper configurations.
Sportified styling
The Elroq vRS is perhaps the most pugnacious looking sporty Skoda since the first Fabia vRS – the diesel one. It’s made distinct from other Elroqs by deeper front and rear bumpers, a prominent rear spoiler, black trim details and vRS badges on the front wings. The grille – which Skoda calls Tech-Deck Face because it houses a load of sensors – is illuminated and puts on a lightshow when the car is locked and unlocked. Various vRS-specific wheel designs up to 21in in size are available.
Inside, the seats are covered in Suedia microfibre cloth and the steering wheel in perforated leather, both with lime green stitching. Carbonfibre-effect trim adorns the dashboard and doors and there are aluminium pedals. Standard features include a 5in digital cockpit and 13in infotainment display, electrically adjustable massaging driver’s seat with memory, Canton stereo and wireless phone charging.
Matrix LED headlights are also standard and there’s the usual phalanx of driver assists including adaptive cruise control and lane assist, traffic jam assist and blind spot detection. There’s even remote park assist, which allows the driver to park the car while stood next to it, via the MySkoda app. The system can even learn up to five parking scenarios and automatically drive itself into position.
Range and charging
The vRS has the biggest battery in the Elroq range, with a capacity of 84kWh (79kWh usable). Skoda states a range of 340 miles on the WLTP cycle, 20 miles down on the regular Elroq 85. The vRS can recharge at a rate of 185kW, at which a 10 to 80% charge is possible in 26 minutes. Using an 11kW AC charger, getting from 0 to 100% takes eight hours.
Exact UK specifications and pricing will be announced later in April. Deliveries are expected to start in summer 2025.