Replacement for ‘launch special’ will achieve more range, better pep - but it’s not here for another year.

PRICING realignment for the Skoda Enyaq has had desired effect - meantime, the factory has delivered detail of next year's update, coming here after the ‘launch edition’ stock is exhausted.

The biggest single change with the global refresh is a battery improvement that will enable the 82kWh gross unit to deliver enhanced 210kW output - a 60kW lift on the current car - improved WLTP driving range of 570km (from 518km now) and a slightly faster 0-100kmh time, of 6.7 seconds.

Other changes to include a new 21-inch alloy wheel design and along with deletion of its rear window wiper for a cleaner appearance, plus badges changes.

The updated car will lose the ‘iV’ moniker, as all future Skoda EVs will be designated by model name only, and be badged ‘85’ rather than ’80’, a signal of its performance lift. It continues in rear-drive.

This information has come via Skoda Australia, which has a different launch schedule to ours, and has been confirmed today by the New Zealand distributor.

Skoda New Zealand is being kept busy in the interim with a massive upsurge in interest the car in its current trim, with local boss Rodney Gillard saying the customer inquiry has grown 10-fold.

Our neighbour says it has decided to delay its Enyaq sales programme until the updates, wrapped into a mid-life refresh, avail next year.

It has revealed everything about that already, to fuel consumer interest.

New Zealand has been doing likewise but, of course, is a year ahead, with Enyaq being on sale from September. That’s because the Giltrap Group operation has decided to start off with the car as it is currently built, but in knowledge the factory will switch to producing the refreshed line from December. 

The ability to achieve the last of the current line in the meantime is thought be a big ingredient in Skoda here having been able to slash a substantial $13,000 off the list prices for Enyaq it revealed in February.

That saving that becomes all the more pronounced for the entry version as it slips under $80,000 and therefore becomes eligible for the Clean Car discount - the $7015 payout effecting on July 1 rather than the $8625 return given out presently.

When announcing on June 9 how Enyaq had dropped from $92,990 to $79,990 pre-rebate - and $72,995 with it - in base SUV form and from $97,990 to $84,990 and $102,990 to $89,990 in the respective Max SUV and Coupe formats, Skoda NZ’s boss made special point of saying this was a launch promotion and not a permanent change.

Gillard impressed the revised stickers specifically applied to current generation models, represented by a small count of Max SUVs currently being used as demonstrators and press drive cars. 

The subsequent update will unavoidably affect the price, he said then: “When the new technology comes out next year then we will have to renegotiate, but with those (updated 2024) cars we expect price change. 

“What we are doing now is pretty much going to be a one-off. I don’t see a Sportline at this premium specification to be $79,990 in the future.”

Gillard enforced today there is no hard fast cap on launch edition production - while he acknowledges dealers have suggested no more than 600 units are available, the reality is the factory can build as many as Skoda NZ seeks. 

He expects to have enough cars to last a year and while he cannot say exactly when the updated models will land, he guessed it will be late 2024. He doubts there will be any time when Enyaq is not available in 2024.

“The success of the car will determine that (schedule). It depends how much we pre-sell with the launch edition but I have enough production to see me through the next year.”

Interest in the car as it now presents has simply exploded with the price realignment.

“It’s gone up 10 fold … straight away. Not only are Skoda clients ordering them but dealers are seeing people who are new to the brand.

“The car at that new pricing has put on the shopping list … for total market consideration.” 

The black-trimmed Sportline trim chosen by Skoda NZ is a high end fit out. 

Australia is indicating it will likely also go with a Sportline; raising potential both countries could end up with a common specification.

Such a scenario that would help with supply and also with pricing negotiation. Volume for our neighbour would be much higher than for us and the factory would likely acknowledge this. on the other and, Skoda NZ has unilaterally already cemented a strong bond with the Czechs.

Skoda Australia has told media there it might look to take Enyaq with a super-swish Laurin and Klement luxury pack (above), which is even plusher than ours.

In current provision, the entry Enyaq with the rebate stands at being $20,015 less than it was. Without or without the inducement, it is now the same money as the sister Volkswagen ID.4, with which it and the other Enyaqs share a common (MEB) platform and drivetrain.

It is also lineball with another new entrant, the base - and also rear-drive - Ford Mustang Mach-E (198kW/430Nm, 75.7kWh), a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and two Kia EV6s.

 It is $2000 dearer than the new Cupra Born, also with the same battery, motor and platform as Enyaq, but dimensionally smaller.