Skoda may not be the first automaker you think of when it comes to an all-electric sports car, but you might have to recalibrate those thoughts because, for the first time in the company’s history, an all-electric sports car is not only on the table, it could arrive sooner than we think. That was the sentiment expressed by Christian Strube, the company’s head of technical development, who told Auto Express that the Czech automaker is preparing a zero-emissions performance car that will part of a family of EV models the company plans to roll out in the next decade.
Specific details were not revealed, but the prevailing thought within Skoda seems to be grounded on the goal of diversifying its portfolio to include a good amount of electric vehicles. As it stands, there’s already some movement on bringing an EV version of the Citigo by 2019 and a production version of the Vision E SUV concept that the company unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show a year later. One more electric SUV is expected to follow suit before the all-electric sports car hits the market. As for the planned EV sports car, the plan is for the car to use the company’s MEB electric architecture, the same platform that will be widely used across a range of models under the Volkswagen Group. Power numbers have yet to be mentioned, but expect it to fall right in the same neighborhood as the 300-horsepower Vision E concept. At the very least, look for the Skoda EV sports car to have at least two electric motors, each mounted on one of the front axles.
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A lot of eyes will be on Skoda to deliver the goods
By Detectandpreserve (Own work) , via Wikimedia Commons
It’s been a while since we last saw a Skoda sports car. In fact, the last one of note was the 1970 Skoda 110 R, the same car that’s being talked about as the inspiration behind the new EV sports car. So yeah, now’s as good a time as any for Skoda to get back on that horse. Developing it as an electric car also makes sense because the industry’s headed there anyway.
An electric sports car is also important from a perception point-of-view. Skoda needs an emotional sports car that can shatter the image that its models put too much emphasis on function and not on the actual emotional attachment that a lot of automakers have with their customers. We know Skoda has received criticisms on this end so it’s only right that a sports car, and an EV one at that, can help bring back the perception of Skoda being more than just the bland and boring brand it’s been perceived in recent years.
The plans are being put in place to make it happen. It won’t get done overnight because the company is still prioritizing its SUV lineup, as it should since this segment has been the biggest factor to Skoda’s success. But once it’s rolled out its crossovers and SUVs, prepare for the conversation to revert back to the electric sports car that the Czech brand finally admitted to developing. The unveiling of the Vision E Concept at the Shanghai Auto Show is expected to serve as a design peg for the future EV sports car. That’s a good thing because the Vision E Concept has a lot of design promise. If Skoda largely relies on it to design its future all-electric sports car, it’s going to get off on the right foot with regards to the car’s development. Only time will tell if it does so or not, but the good news is that we won’t have to wait long to find out.
And before talks of dismissing Skoda's attempt to bring some emotion back to its lineup, don't forget that the 110 R was a popular sports car in its time. It sold over 50,000 units in the 10 years (1970 to 1980) it was produced and did well for itself when it was homologated for rally racing.
Read our full review on the Skoda Vision E Concept here.