A lower cost version of the Epiq could come to India in the future.
Skoda has just revealed the design of its Epiq compact SUV. Measuring only 4.1 meters in length and expected to see the light of day in 2025, the Skoda Epiq will be put on sale in the 25,000 Euro (Rs 19-23 Lakh) price range. In Europe, the Epiq EV will form the replacement of the Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Cross (our Kushaq and Taigun), and what we in India could get in the future is a lower cost version of the same.
Skoda Epiq: name and size
The Epiq name, like all its BEVs, starts with an E, which stands for a battery-electric and ends with a Q, that identifies it as a SUV. To be built in collaboration with Volkswagen, the Epiq or A-zero BEV as Skoda calls it, is expected to have a relatively long 2600 mm wheelbase and come with 490 litres of boot space. Don’t expect it to be compact on the inside. Because this is a born electric SUV with a compact nose, you can expect a lot more space on the inside than you would inside a traditional or ICE based four-metre-long SUV, and that will be key.
Skoda Epiq: exterior design
The Epiq is also designed with all of Skoda’s new ‘modern solid’ design cues. The new slender grille area, the channel in the bonnet with the Skoda word-mark instead of the flying arrow logo and the clear and smooth skinning give it a modern Skoda look. Interesting details up front include T-shaped LED elements for the daytime running lights and around the side there is a high, sweeping ‘tornado’ line that visually separates the greenhouse (or windows) from the rest of the body and shows off the car’s strong shoulder line.
Squared wheel arches give the profile an interesting look, the ‘floating’ roof also gets a shark-fin like ‘C’ pillar and the ‘T’ shaped light signature from up front is also neatly carried over to the rear. Oliver Stefani, chief designer at the Czech carmaker says “The Skoda Epiq design study perfectly embodies all the key attributes of the new design language Modern Solid.”
Skoda Epiq interior design
Even more interesting is the cabin and especially the minimalist and tiny instrument panel, that only seems to be there to provide essential data. All other information, as on many Tesla models, will come via the large central touchscreen. The Skoda Epiq will also be the first production vehicle to feature a minimalist Modern Solid interior, with the dash top and lower ledge following on from the look seen on current Skoda cars.
The two-spoke steering wheel showcases the new Skoda lettering as well as physical buttons and haptic scroll wheels. The boot also gets some of Skoda’s Simply Clever details like bag hooks, and hidden underfloor compartments.
Skoda Epiq: battery, motor, tech
The Epiq compact SUV will have a range of around 400 kms. Battery capacity for the EU is likely to be between 38kWh and 56kWh (the Nexon EV has a 40.5 kWh battery), and SUV is likely to be offered with a single motor placed at the front for better packaging, roominess and boot space. Another interesting piece of tech is Skoda’s mobile digital key, which enables a wide range of features to be deployed via the driver’s smartphone.
And the Skoda Epiq also supports bidirectional charging that transforms the car into a rolling energy storage unit that can feed excess electric energy into the customer’s home and/or to other appliances. “The coming Škoda Epiq will package an attractive price and a big interior with a compact size. Our customers want choices, which is why we are expanding our growing e-mobility portfolio into this popular segment” says Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda Auto.
Skoda Epiq production and launch
The Skoda Epiq EV will be made in Pamplona, Spain, along with the Cupra brand and Volkswagen. The Skoda Elroq, a larger battery-electric compact SUV, will be the first vehicle to be launched as part of the upcoming electric model campaign, with its debut scheduled for later this year.
Skoda India is also known to be working on a compact SUV EV for India. If things go to plan the compact electric SUV for India will be made on the low cost MEB 21 platform and form part of the PEAK.EV project, which consists of a pair of EV SUVs for both Skoda and Volkswagen, four in total.
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