Yahoo Autos Skoda Shows That EVs Can Be Cool with Enyaq Race Car Concept
The Skoda Enyaq RS Race is a wild-looking concept that turns a mainstream crossover into a track toy by shedding 697 pounds.
Its 335-hp dual-motor electric powertrain is closely related to the all-wheel-drive setup found in the U.S.-market Volkswagen ID.4.
Along with cutting weight, the Enyaq RS Race has a unique suspension, brakes, and a hydraulic handbrake.
Over in Europe, the Volkswagen ID.4 has a snazzier-looking sibling in the form of the sharply styled Skoda Enyaq. For some reason, Skoda decided to turn its compact EV crossover into a track machine with the Enyaq RS Race. While it's an odd choice for a track conversion, we're not going to hate on Skoda's effort, because not only does it look gnarly, but it sheds 697 pounds and gives us hope that the future of EV people-movers doesn't have to be nearly as dull as we had feared.
Developed by Skoda's motorsport division, which is also responsible for the Fabia RS Rally2 car, the Enyaq RS Race sits 2.8 inches lower and measures 2.8 inches wider up front and 4.6 inches wider at the rear than its road-going counterpart. But the biggest difference versus the standard Enyaq Coupé RS is its substantially lower curb weight.
There are two crucial factors to the significant weight savings. First, Skoda says it removed "all components not needed for the car's intended use," and the interior looks properly stripped down, with little else besides a roll cage, big screen, steering wheel, and a pair of racing bucket seats with six-point harnesses. The rear seats are also gone.
The other key is the widespread use of biocomposite parts made from flax fibers, including the bumpers, fenders, roof, and rear wing. The sustainable parts, which Skoda says have the same rigidity and weight advantages as carbon fiber, are also found inside on the dashboard, door panels, and footrests. The road car's panoramic glass roof was swapped out for a biocomposite panel, while the side and rear windows are now made from a lightweight polycarbonate.
Visually, the Enyaq RS Race looks the part with a wild aerodynamics package that includes a large rear wing, a front lip spoiler, and a rear diffuser. On the roof, a NACA duct feeds air into the cabin to keep the driver cool, and small winglets channel air towards the rear wing. There are also vertical vents behind the front and rear wheels to help cool the brakes. The headlights and taillights have been darkened, and the production car's "Crystal Face" grille has been turned black with a thin LED strip for a more sinister appearance.
Skoda claims the Enyaq RS Race matches the handling prowess of the Fabia rally car, featuring adjustable springs and dampers. It is also fitted with a beefed-up braking system featuring carbon-ceramic discs, 10-piston calipers up front, four-piston calipers at the rear, and a new cooling system. You also may have noticed the tall hydraulic handbrake poking up in the middle of the cabin.
While the electric powertrain is unchanged, that's no bad thing, as the standard Enyaq Coupé RS features a dual-motor powertrain pumping out 335 horsepower. Skoda says it will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in less than 5.0 seconds and tops out at 112 mph, so the Enyaq RS Race is probably best suited to smaller tracks with short straights—think the 1.5-mile-long Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. The 82.0-kWh battery is also unaltered.
Intriguingly, Skoda also fitted the race car with a sound system that plays what it calls a "characteristic, exhilarating motorsport sounds." We're not entirely sure why this is necessary for a race car. Skoda says the Enyaq RS Race concept is a pilot project that previews ideas that could make their way into future production vehicles. We doubt the Volkswagen-owned Czech brand is actually considering building a racing version of its electric crossover, but we hope to see some of this fun spirit injected into the Volkswagen Group's future electric offerings.
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