Enyaq RS Race: an electric coupé on steroids

Do you know what happens when you give Škoda Motorsport an electric coupé and tell them to do what they want with it? They turn it into the Enyaq RS Race. Check it out!

9. 10. 2024 Škoda World Design

The racing car is based on the production Enyaq Coupé RS, but it has undergone a number of modifications aimed at both sporty driving characteristics and overall sustainability. Several components are made from biocomposite materials, resulting in a car that is 316 kilograms lighter than the production version.

The Enyaq RS Race also had its chassis lowered by 70 mm compared to the production version. It has a dramatically widened bumper (the rear by as much as 116 mm) and a host of aerodynamic body modifications. Inside we find a safety frame, of course, plus racing seats with six-point seatbelts and other racing features common in competition cars. When designing all these features, the focus was primarily on functionality.

Watch Oliver Solberg put the Enyaq RS Race through its paces:

Racing modifications

In addition to those new features, the Enyaq RS Race has a number of other racing modifications. There are carbon-ceramic disc brakes with ten-piston callipers, for example. One technical addition is the hydraulic handbrake which, along with the pedals, is taken from the competition Fabia RS Rally2. The entire brake cooling system is brand new. The cooling of the car itself has also been altered, with the air intake to the radiator on the bottom of the car, so no air flows through the bonnet into the car. This made it necessary to change the position of the radiator.

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The Enyaq RS Race has 20-inch wheels. The steering is also new: linear with a quick ratio instead of the progressive one of the production car, controlled by a racing steering wheel. Inside, in addition to the features already mentioned, there is also an automatic fire extinguishing system.

The powertrain as such remains as standard, with two electric motors with a total output of 250 kW and an 82 kWh battery. The top speed remains at 180 km/h, but the significantly lower weight means that the car goes from 0 to 100 km/h in less than five seconds. The Enyaq RS Race has also been given an all-new sound signal, which also continues above 30 km/h. This enhances the car’s overall racing atmosphere and character.

The Enyaq RS Race has standard rally car features such as a safety frame.

Experiences for future application

“The Škoda Enyaq RS Race was developed completely in-house by Škoda Motorsport. Based on the Enyaq Coupé RS production model, the car features a distinctive design with strong racing DNA, enhanced aerodynamics and excellent acceleration. In terms of sustainable solutions, the new concept car also serves as a pilot project for future innovations in series production. The biocomposite parts have led to a significant weight reduction, and we are trialling them in motorsport, including in the current Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, with a view to future implementation,” explains Johannes Neft, Škoda board member for technical development.

The Enyaq RS Race is Škoda’s second electric rally car. It follows on from the Škoda RE-X1 special, which Škoda Motorsport developed in 2021 in collaboration with Kreisel Electric and the Baumschlager Rallye & Racing team. The car also benefits from the experience of Škoda Motorsport engineers with the current customer racing car, the Fabia RS Rally2.

Various details of the Škoda Enyaq RS Race.

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One significant innovation that the Enyaq RS Race puts into practice involves biocomposite materials. The AmpliTex and PowerRibs materials use flax fibres and come from Bcomp, which is developing them as an alternative to carbon fibre parts. Compared to carbon fibre, the carbon footprint of these parts is up to 85% lower, while the benefits of low weight and high strength are maintained. The Enyaq RS Race uses these materials both inside and out: bumpers, mudguards, rear wing, roof (replacing the production version’s glass roof), dashboard, door panels and driver and passenger floor mats.

The Enyaq RS Race concept car uses biocomposite materials for several parts.

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This is the first time Škoda has used this kind of material for such large, important and complex parts. It makes sense – the concept car is used to test these parts, which may one day make it into series production. Incidentally, 3D printing was also applied in making the prototype, using a bio-friendly and CO₂-neutral material.