New Skoda Epiq electrical SUV revives the spirit of the Yeti

Skoda has revealed first particulars of its new all-electric child SUV, boldly referred to as the Skoda Epiq, that’s set to price round €25,000 (£22,000) and revive the spirit of the unique Yeti when it goes on sale after a public debut subsequent yr.

Though the automotive in these official photographs is technically a design research, Auto Specific understands that it’s fairly near the mannequin that can make it into showrooms, together with the inside. 

With the idea’s compact, upright stance and versatile inside, Skoda followers will instantly draw comparisons with the favored Yeti SUV that was axed amongst uproar in 2017. At 4,100mm lengthy, the Epiq is marginally shorter than the Yeti, though it out-punches the older automotive with regards to boot house, providing a formidable 490 litres of house in comparison with the Yeti’s 416 litres.

There are many conventional Skoda Merely Intelligent options inside, together with a floating centre console with a helpful spot for wi-fi telephone charging, deep door pockets, cargo hooks within the boot, and underfloor storage. However the inside is bang updated, with a big central touchscreen and a row of bodily buttons decrease down, whereas your smartphone will be capable to act as a digital key and sustainable supplies function all through the cabin.

The Epiq is the most recent embodiment of Skoda’s Trendy Strong design language, with sharp strains, refined detailing and clear surfaces. The clamshell bonnet options the brand new Skoda lettering on the entrance edge – there’s no signal of the winged Skoda emblem wherever on the automotive – with slim T-shaped LED lights within the nook and small LED slashes that reach towards the centre the place the bonnet protrudes into the grille. The grille itself is definitely a clean, shiny black panel that Skoda calls the Tech-Deck as a result of it hides cameras and sensors for the driver-assistance techniques; it’s been seen earlier than, after all, on the Imaginative and prescient 7S idea.

The matrix-LED headlamps are break up from the daytime-running lights – as they have been on the first-generation Yeti – and sit decrease down and feed into one other full-width, however slimmer black panel. The bumper options Jeep-like vertical panels, however that is likely to be one ingredient that doesn’t make it into the manufacturing mannequin.

The aspect profile options pronounced wheel arches surrounded by black cladding, whereas a definite shoulder line extends over the rear wheels with a shark-fin c-pillar sitting above. The roof gently slopes in the direction of the again into an aerodynamic spoiler, whereas there are extra T-shaped LED lights and a repeat of the eight vertical panels from the entrance within the rear bumper. Once more, the Skoda identify is spelled out throughout the boot lid.

Skoda boss Klaus Zellmer describes the Epiq as “providing a spacious inside inside a compact inside, all at a pretty value”, simply because the Yeti did when it was launched in 2009. “We’ve listened to our clients and perceive they’re searching for engaging choices, which is why we’re increasing our e-mobility portfolio into this common section,” he added. 

The Epiq will sit on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB small platform that can even be used for the upcoming Volkswagen ID. 2 and Cupra Raval – and it will likely be constructed on the identical manufacturing unit in Pamplona, Spain.

Though Skoda has mentioned that the Epiq may have a spread of as much as round 250 miles, it hasn’t launched any additional technical data. Nevertheless, Volkswagen did reveal some battery, energy and efficiency particulars when it previewed the ID.2 with the ID.2all Idea, so it’s secure to imagine that the identical would apply to the Epiq. 

The Volkswagen idea boasted of two completely different sizes of battery – 38 and 56kWh – with the bigger pack feeding a front-mounted motor producing 223bhp, sufficient for a 0-62mph time of round seven seconds. VW claimed an extended vary of round 280 miles for the bigger battery, with quick 125 kW DC charging taking the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in round 20 minutes.

As for the Epiq identify, it follows Skoda’s EV naming technique or E for electrical and Q to determine the automotive as an SUV. It’s one other assured identify from Skoda, alongside comparable strains to the Excellent, however apparently comes from the traditional Greek phrase ‘epos’ which suggests phrase, verse, story or poem.

The Epiq will function in a line-up of six new Skodas electrical vehicles to be launched over the approaching years. First to reach would be the Skoda Elroq earlier than the tip of this yr, with others together with up to date variations of the Enyaq hatch and coupé, a manufacturing model of 2022’s Imaginative and prescient 7S idea, and a fair smaller mannequin that Skoda is hoping may rival the Dacia Spring on value, at beneath £20,000.

Click on right here for our checklist of the finest electrical SUVs…