The Elroq signed up for sale here from mid-year has gained a fizzy new family member.

HERE it only adheres to petrol models - but over ‘there’, in its home market, Skoda’s vRS (often simplified to RS for Kiwi consumption) badge is also hanging off electric cars.

Two electric cars, with confirmation of the Elroq vRS.

This go-faster edition of a new small electric hatch that will come to NZ mid-year in standard form is to be fully disclosed this week.

Its roll is to stand as a fizzier flagship to mainstream-oriented versions arriving here, installing around the same time as a facelift of the Enyaq electric on the same platform.

Skoda’s electric products aim at different buyers - the Elroq is slightly more compact - but are closely related. Elroq shares many key components with the Enyaq – including its MEB platform, wheelbase, as well as its motors, batteries and even some body panels.

Elroq vRS’s full unveiling is on April 3, as a special treat of the Milan Design Week in Italy, and will also be streamed live on Skoda’s YouTube channel.

The Czech firm has already released a preview image and video, from which some of the detail shots here have been plucked.

The advance publicity confirms the "most dynamic Elroq model" will be available in the vRS sub-brand's trademark Hyper Green paint and said it will be further marked out from the standard car by a raft of contrasting black trim elements.

There’s no word of NZ interest in the Elroq vRS. We never saw the Karoq vRS, but perhaps that will change with the bigger car’s freshen.

The petrol-pure Octavia vRS and Kodiaq vRS - also about to land in a new-generation format - have consistently been strong sellers here.

No technical details for Elroq vRS have been given yet, but Skoda’s smallest electric is closely related to Cupra Born, which has been on sale here for two years.

What likelihood the vRS version is likely to use the same powertrain components? Some say that rather than being rear-wheel-drive, as the Born is, the Skoda will match the Eyaq vRS is having dual motors for all-paw action.

If it stays single motor, that won’t necessarily be an issue. In latest format, the hottest Born, labelled VZ, has updated to Volkswagen Group's new 'AP550' motor on the rear axle, providing up to 240kW.

That’s a big lift on the 170kW enjoyed by the NZ-market car, which has repositioned to $64,900, a $10,000 decrease on its launch price. The NZ model has an overboost function to briefly adds 20kW to the power output.

If Elroq vRS also has 240kW, would make the Elroq vRS only very slightly less powerful than the dual-motor, 250kW Enyaq vRS.

There’s conjecture it will be fitted with the standard car’s biggest 77kWh battery and deliver the same level of agility and driver involvement the Born relays.

The teaser imagery suggests a perforated leather steering wheel and bespoke seats – both with vRS branding.

The idea of continuing the vRS heritage into a fully electric future has been embraced by Skoda.

Brand chief executive Klaus Zellmer said that reaction to the Enyaq vRS has “legitimised” the idea of faster zero-emissions technology carrying a badge and brand built on hot hatchbacks.

“vRS is absolutely part of our future,” Zellmer told one UK publication recently.

“If you look at what we’ve done with Enyaq, it’s a fabulous top-of-the-line vehicle – arguably the most aspirational car in our line-up, with four-wheel drive, around 300bhp. The price is higher, but it’s still a value proposition in terms of performance for the money.

“ … we have to continue along the vRS path as we move towards an electrified future.”

Skoda NZ has not yet related what drivetrain choices have been made for the mainstream Elroq; when announcing intent to take the car, it said it conceivably had several combinations to consider.

There’s an entry ’50’ model with a 55kWh battery with a maximum claimed range of 370 kilometres, a mid-range ’60’ cars with a larger 63kWh battery, which claims 402km on a full charge and types with the largest battery, a 82kWh unit that claims up to 580km of range.

Skoda quotes charging speeds of up to 175kW with the latter, giving a 10-80 percent charge in 28 minutes, while the smallest battery still manages charging speeds up to 145kW and charges 10-80 percent charge in 25 minutes.

Although Skoda calls Elroq a compact SUV, it’s not much smaller than the Enyaq.

Though it is being sold as a compact SUV, in reality it’s not much smaller than Enyaq. At 4.49m, Elroq is just 161mm shorter in overall length, while the wheelbase – the distance between the front and rear wheels – is identical. That means cabin space is similar in both cars. The Elroq’s boot is 115 litres smaller at 470 litres.

The type introduces a ‘Modern Solid’ design language set to will be seen on all of new Skodas. For Elroq, this aesthetic includes 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.