New Skoda Elroq vRS officially unveiled in Milan

Skoda is nothing if not dependable. By and large, you know what you’re going to get, and in a topsy-turvy world that’s quite welcome. No nasty surprises when it comes to design, pricing, driving dynamics and so on. But it also means no nice surprises, either (apart from when the UK PR team went rogue and made the Superb Sleeper). So the new Elroq vRS, shown today in Milan ahead of being exhibited during Fashion Week, is exactly as might have been expected. For better or worse.

It delivers 340hp from a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain, as per the latest range of GTX VWs like the ID.7; its 5.4-second sprint to 62mph makes it the fastest accelerating Skoda on sale. Power comes from a 79kWh (net) battery, which can charge at up to 185kW and deliver more than 340 miles on WLTP. Top speed is 112mph. 

The Hyper Green is the most obvious distinguishing feature of the Elroq vRS, though other paints are available. The 21-inch wheels are unique to the model, and look quite smart in best vRS tradition; the optionally available DCC dampers will probably be helpful given the size of those, however. There are black accents from front to back, model-specific bumpers and LED matrix lights. 

While the fancier dampers are extra, the Elroq vRS gets progressive steering as standard for ‘excellent driving dynamics in any situation’. Again it sounds very familiar from sportier MEB EVs, complete with the 15mm lower ride height. There are uprated brakes, reconfigured drive modes plus Sport and Futuristic sounds to choose from. But only for outside the car, oddly. It’s not pedestrians that need these cars to be more entertaining.

The interior of the Elroq gains vRS graphics for the five-inch Digital Cockpit and 13-inch infotainment display. There’s lime green contrast stitching throughout (so best go for the lairy colour outside, really), ‘carbon-look decor’, heated sports seats – with massage for the driver – plus stainless steel pedal covers. There’s a QR code in the back that links to videos about boot functions and a Maxx pack that gives the passenger a massage seat also, so this is very much still an Elroq first and a vRS (hopefully) second. 

Johannes Neft, Skoda’s man on the board for Technical Development, said: “Skoda vRS models traditionally combine dynamic performance and sporty looks with well-balanced driving characteristics and practicality. The Elroq vRS is no exception: the newest member of our vRS family comes with an output of 340PS and a range of more than 550 kilometres while the DCC blends sportiness and comfort to perfection… This appealing package makes the Elroq vRS the ideal everyday companion.” And that’s probably key, right? The vRS models have typically appealed precisely because they aren’t so overtly sporting as to be irritating. Expect plenty more of the same from the Elroq when it arrives in the summer.