Skoda Australia’s first electric car one step closer

The Skoda Enyaq electric SUV is arriving in Australia in July, and the Czech brand is weighing a luxurious L&K variant for the range.

L&K is the name the brand uses for its most luxurious trim level, and is named after Skoda’s predecessor company Laurin & Klement, which was in turn named after its founders.

Government documents show the Enyaq has been approved to be sold here in single-motor rear-wheel drive L&K and Sportline trims, plus as a dual-motor all-wheel drive RS.

“L&K is a very desirable trim level and we are looking at the business case for it here,” said a spokesperson for Skoda Australia, though they noted Australians “have a clear preference towards sporty models”.

Skoda has never offered an L&K variant of any of its models here.

The company has yet to announce the local Enyaq lineup, and whether the electric vehicle (EV) will come here in regular SUV or coupe SUV body styles – or both.

Where the Sportline features a black grille, a different front bumper treatment with black accents, and black mirror caps, the L&K features platinum grey detailing and an illuminated Crystal Face grille with 18 vertical strips and a horizontal band comprising 130 LEDs.

The L&K rides on 20-inch ‘Asterion’ anthracite alloy wheels, though 21-inch alloys are optional as is a panoramic sunroof.

Looking at the UK-market model, it also comes standard with Skoda’s Advanced Package, which includes a head-up display, heated front and rear seats, and a Canton sound system. This package is optional on the Sportline.

Inside, there’s perforated leather upholstery with the front seats featuring heating, ventilation and massage.

There’s a choice of black or light beige interior colourways, both with cognac brown piping.

It’s available only with the ‘85’ powertrain, which comprises a single electric motor on the rear axle producing 210kW of power.

It can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds.

The flagship Enyaq RS is powered by a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup that now produces 250kW of power. It can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.5 seconds, which is a second quicker than the pre-update model.

85 and RS models alike use an 82kWh battery with a maximum DC charging rate of 175kW, allowing them to be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 28 minutes.

The Sportline offers 534km of range on the WLTP cycle in Coupe guise and 528km as a wagon, while RS range varies from 541km to 547km.

The L&K wagon has a claimed 550km of range.

Skoda Australia hasn’t given a clear indication of how the Enyaq will be priced, though managing director Michael Irmer said in June last year “we will offer the car with everything”.

Mr Irmer added “all electric cars cost a bit more upfront”, hinting at a starting price for the entry-level Enyaq 85 “certainly [at least] a couple of thousand dollars” more than the Kodiaq RS. The petrol-powered SUV is currently priced at $76,890 drive-away.

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