RS edition that has historically accounted for strongest buy-in now a $95k car.

MIGHT previously aired expectation of sales leadership maintaining with the RS performance flagship of Skoda’s Kodiaq family be put to stern test with announcement of pricing today?

The new seven-seater model brings more zest and a sportier attitude to a car whose fresh look and tech enhancement was revealed by mainstream 2.0-litre diesel and 1.4-litre petrol types that introduced five months ago.

However, the cost of going to the fastest edition has also risen sharply, with Skoda New Zealand set to launch it for $95,000, a hefty $10k climb over the previous generation car in its final pricing.

The new sticker precludes on-road costs and makes it the most expensive internal combustion engined Skoda passenger model yet sold here.

The all-electric Enyaq was higher, peaking at $103k for the coupe when it was released in early 2023, but only until a massive price drop followed by additional discounting during 2024 when the electric car market all but dissolved. Enyaq is currently unavailable, pending arrival of a facelift edition, along with a smaller sister car, the Elroq.

Is the distributor jittery about this? Not at all, says Skoda NZ general manager Alex Brown.

“We are confident the price point matches the evolution and refinement of the car and resembles great value, especially when compared to other top of the range seven-seat SUVs,” he said today.

“The Kodiaq nameplate will remain our most popular car due to its versatility, quality, and simple clever features; our customers will decide which variant fits their lifestyle.”

Along with the price jump, more bad news … a longer waiting time than first anticipated.

Skoda NZ had planned to have the RS Kodiaq available this month, but now says it is taking pre-orders for cars it expects will arrive later in the year.

In shared comment today, it says the launch schedule rejig is due to ‘overwhelming’ worldwide demand. Nonetheless, NZ appears to among the first right hand drive destinations outside of the United Kingdom.

Potential for price creep signalled when the mainstream versions realigned.

Most notably, the new Selection grade that re-introduced the 142kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel to the type, for instance, landed in February for $78,300 - so just $1690 less than the previous generation RS sold for at launch, subsequent to a price realignment.

RS Kodiaq has historically been an important model as it has consistently achieved more volume than any other variant of this large sports utility vehicle.

And Kodiaq in all forms has historically also been the biggest seller to private buyers.

The car in all forms is packing additional clever features and latest tech, a refreshed look, with more weighting toward seven seats - with understanding the third row is very much ‘occasional’ - and some new engine options, including plug-in hybrid petrol.

The RS which sells as the vRS in Europe) has the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine as the previous edition, but with 195kW and 400Nm - so, 15kW and 30Nm more than the preceding generation.

Even though the new car has gained additional weight, it’s faster than the predecessor, with a cited 0-100kmh time of 6.4 seconds representing as a 0.2s improvement. Top speed is 230kmh. the optimal economy when measured on the WLTP combined cycle is 8.5 litres per 100km.

The new model’s uprated power has required an update the bigger ventilated disc brakes with two-piston calipers up front, 15-mode adaptive suspension and progressive steering.

As before, the model is identified by having 20-inch alloy wheels, unique front and rear bumpers, dual stainless steel exhaust tips, RS badging and a slew of black accents.

The interior sports a black-on-black look with red contrast stitching, power-adjustable front sports seats, Skoda’s RS-badged sports steering wheel, and bespoke RS graphics across the 12.3-inch main and 10-inch driver displays.

Skoda here has gone for an RS suite appointment in which leather (artificial and real) is used, front and mid row outer seats have heating, the front seats are also ventilated and have memory function.

Meantime, the Auckland-based operator is still working through when updated Enyaq and the Elroq will begin sale.

Says Brown: “We continue to work with the factory to secure Enyaq and Elroq. Timing for these models is still TBC, but we expect to be able to announce more in the coming weeks.”