Skoda NZ has updated its small ICE cars, the factory is one step ahead.

SKODA New Zealand’s immediate small car future hinges on updates to the platform and drivetrain-sharing petrol Scala hatch and Kamiq crossover, but the factory’s focus is now more on an electric car set to replace both.

The parent has today revealed the first sketches of the exterior appearance of its incoming Elroq compact SUV, a smaller electric vehicle designed to sit beneath the Enyaq in the product line-up.

The Czech manufacturer made the announcement of the Elroq’s drawings on World EV Day, a celebration of all things zero-emissions.

Skoda is planning to release the Elroq with a choice of four electric powertrain options and three different battery packs. Power will range from 126kW to 223kW, with a suggested maximum range of 560km on one of the models fitted with the 82kWh battery pack.

It is the first production model from Skoda to adopt what it is calling the ‘Modern Solid’ design language, which will be seen on all of its products going forward. 

For the Elroq, this aesthetic includes something called the ‘Tech-Deck Face’, a flat, wide structure that replaces the traditional Skoda grille, usually an octagonal-in-shape feature. That, in turn, results in split LED headlights.

There’s also a new front-end design with Skoda lettering on it, Dark Chrome exterior detailing and a colour that’s exclusive to the Elroq called Timiano Green.

Elroy isn’t too far from production, but given that model rollouts traditionally favour Europe first, chances are that it wouldn’t be available for NZ selection for at least another year. And, of course, its chances will also depend on the electric vehicle market pulling itself out of the doldrums.

In the meantime, we’ve now got first shipment of the revised Scala and Kamiq, with aesthetic tweaks of new headlights and new bumpers on the outside and a bit of a freshen up in the cabins, including greater use of recycled elements. Both models have a 110kW 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine that is a carryover for Kamiq but new to Scala.

Scala continues in a single specification at $38,990; Kamiq is in $43,990 standard form with a Monte Carlo edition at $51,490.