Skoda keeps chasing after the electric segment, with a whole new vehicle set to debut later this year. The model is called the Elroq and recently made its spy shot debut.
What exactly is a Skoda Elroq, you ask? Well, it is a brand-new compact crossover with electric firepower that will replace the Karoq. The latter has been around since 2017, sharing its VW Group MQB A1 underpinnings with the SEAT Ateca and Volkswagen T-Roc, and featuring gasoline and diesel power.
Its successor ditches the aging platform for something more modern that is dedicated to EVs: the MEB construction – that's what reports indicate, anyway. This architecture is the foundation stone of many other zero-emission models from the VW Group's portfolio, including the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.6, ID.7, ID. Buzz, Skoda Enyaq, Cupra Born, Tavascan, Audi Q4 e-tron, Q5 e-tron, and the Ford Explorer EV, to name but some.
Since it features familiar nuts and bolts, the upcoming Skoda Elroq will likely sport some familiar components. This might comprise the battery pack(s) and electric motor(s). The Czech automaker has developed a taste for some sporty rides, so a dual-motor variant with all-wheel drive is not ruled out. Nevertheless, this one might debut later on, perhaps a few months to a year (or more) after the vehicle's official unveiling.
Photo: Baldauf
Skoda first spoke of the Elroq last year, stating that it will sit under the Enyaq in the brand's EV lineup. The model will be around 177 inches (4.5 meters) long, so it will be about as big as the Ford Explorer EV. Skoda also said the Elroq will have "a spacious and very practical interior," calling it the "ideal family car" at one point. It remains to be seen whether it will be a great all-quiet daily, and it needs to be very darn good should it want to make a difference in this class.
The Elroq has split headlamps, a closed-off grille, a generous lower air intake, a clamshell-like hood, a rear overhang shorter than the front one, traditional door handles, very arched front and rear pillars, LED taillights, a clean-looking bumper, and a roof-mounted wing. Skoda also gave it a shark fin antenna, interesting alloys on the scooped prototype, and a generous ground clearance. Hey, it is a crossover, after all, so it needs to stand out from the Scala hatchback.
As mentioned above, the Czech car manufacturer will lift the curtain for the Elroq later this year. The electric compact crossover may debut sometime this fall, with Skoda likely opening the order books before the end of 2024. More details about it as the testing phase advances and the prototypes start losing camo. But until then, do you like it?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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