Skoda Peaq presented: When size matters

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Skoda is rounding off its E-SUV range downwards and upwards this year. Where it's heading has been roughly foreseeable for some time. The smaller Epiq will be available in autumn. More has now been revealed about the Peaq, which is even said to surpass the Kodiaq in terms of dimensions. It also indicates how larger Skoda models will change visually.

Wastefully much space

The Skoda Peaq will be a very large car by European standards, although not quite as huge as the 7S concept suggested four years ago. With a length of 4.87 m, it surpasses the Enyaq and also the Kodiaq. The wheelbase is 2.97 m, almost exactly 20 cm longer than in the Elroq and Enyaq. The space in the second row is likely to be downright extravagant. The five-seater is said to offer a trunk volume of 1010 liters. Skoda has determined that some customers still wish for an additional storage compartment under the front hood. Unlike in the Enyaq and Elroq (Test), this is available in the Peaq ex works. However, at 37 liters, it is not too generous. A third seat row is also available on request. Behind this, there are still 299 liters of luggage space left.

Skoda is not yet releasing pictures of the interior. There are said to be five different styles. In other models, the Sportline, also offered here with plenty of microfiber upholstery, is quite popular. If desired, seats with the seal of the Aktion Gesunder Rücken (AGR) can be ordered. Then a massage is also included, which hopefully does more than the one in the Enyaq. There, essentially only a cushion in the back is inflated and deflated – no comparison to the AGR seats that Opel, for example, installs.

Glass roof without opening

The pre-series model still has retractable door handles that extend when needed. This has not been available at Skoda before and could have a rather short career. Because in the important Chinese market, this functionally questionable design element is being curbed by legislation. What is already certain: As in the Enyaq Coupé, the driver of the Peaq must also say goodbye to an opening glass roof. Although Skoda boasts that it is the largest glass roof in the company's history and can be made milky at the touch of a button electrochromatically, an opening is no longer planned.

The optional sound system in the Peaq comes from Sonos. At least in this segment, Skoda is ending its long-standing cooperation with Canton. For the first time, the central display in the middle is arranged vertically. The instrument cluster, which now measures 10 inches, is significantly larger than in Skoda's previous electric cars. The operating system will be Android-based and will largely correspond to what is currently being rolled out in other group models such as the VW ID.3 Neo. The big leap in system architecture, i.e. the electronics developed together with Rivian, will only debut in a later model.

Three engine options at launch

Three engine options are planned for the launch. The base model "Peaq 60" already has 150 kW, accelerates the giant from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, and up to a maximum of 160 km/h. Skoda is not using the new LFP battery from the smaller models for the storage, but is sticking with the nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) cell chemistry. The gross energy content is 63 kWh. Skoda states the WLTP range at around 460 km. The battery should be able to be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 27 minutes. Based on the gross energy content, this would mean an average charging power of 98 kW. The maximum DC charging power should be around 160 kW.

The base model, like the next step in the hierarchy, uses rear-wheel drive. The top model adds an asynchronous motor on the front axle, which, however, only increases the system output from 210 to 220 kW. An RS model with significantly more power is firmly planned, which Skoda will likely release next year. The performance of the foreseeable top models is expected to be close. Both are limited to 180 km/h, and the standard sprint times are hardly noteworthy at 7.1 (rear-wheel drive) and 6.7 seconds for the all-wheel drive.

Around 600 km range in WLTP

Interestingly, the initial range statements are also identical. Final homologation is still pending, but Skoda states a range of about 600 km for both models – with identical battery configuration. It's 91 kWh gross, of which 70 percent can be recharged between a charge level of 10 and 80 percent in 28 minutes. This would correspond to an average charging power of 136.5 kW in this range. The large battery can be charged at a peak of up to 195 kW. This is close to what is possible with the common, current charging infrastructure that can deliver 500 amperes on a 400-volt platform: 500 amperes times 400 volts is 200,000 watts, or 200 kW.

Prices and market launch

The Peaq is scheduled for its dealer premiere in the autumn. There are no price indications yet, only a few clues. A Skoda Enyaq with the small battery, which has a similar energy content to the base version of the Peaq, cost around 44,000 euros. It is currently being converted to the LFP battery. Together with the new hardware in the infotainment area, the price is likely to increase slightly. For the significantly larger Skoda Peaq, we expect a surcharge of about 5000 euros. So, if you estimate around 50,000 euros for the base model, around 54,000 for the rear-wheel drive, and 57,000 euros for the all-wheel drive, you should be quite close to the truth.

(mfz)