Oliver Solberg took a ride in the mass-produced Škoda Enyaq Coupé electric car on the Riga racetrack. And the car really impressed him: as a racing driver, he appreciates the inherent qualities of electric cars. Find out what they are.
Rally driver Oliver Solberg drove a production car with all-electric drive for the first time on the Bikernieki circuit. "I've wanted to try this car for a really long time. Not because it's electric, but because it looks different and futuristic," Oliver confessed in Latvia. He emphasized that the futuristic design of the Enyaq Coupé RS does not clash with the car's practicality. That's because designers have a slightly freer hand with electric cars; they are not limited by the need to build an internal combustion engine and some other traditional components into the body. This also benefits the interior space of the car, which can be used to the maximum thanks to the flat floor.
This content is hosted by a third party (www.youtube.com). By accessing and viewing this external content, you acknowledge personal data processing may occur by the relevant external provider and you confirm that you are acquainted with the terms and conditions as well as relevant privacy notice of www.youtube.com.
But Oliver Solberg appreciates the car's sportiness above all. "I like the minimalist dashboard. And the driving position is great, the sports seats are comfortable and look great," says the driver. On the track, he really enjoys the all-wheel drive and 340 horsepower of the electric Enyaq Coupé RS. He says the car has one feature that even the best rally special can't match: "I enjoy the immediate response of the electric motor to working the accelerator pedal. Not even the best ALS system in a rally car can beat that," says Oliver Solberg.
The fun behind the wheel is enhanced by the excellent rigidity of the car's skeleton. "The skeleton is reinforced by a battery in the floor, which also lowers the overall centre of gravity of the car. That's what you're trying to do when you build a race car," he says, adding another similarity to competition specials. According to him, torsional rigidity and a low centre of gravity are thus inherent to electric cars.
After an intense day spent in an electric car on the racetrack, however, Solberg is also returning to the practical side of the car. "The spacious interior of the has car always given me a certain sense of calm when driving. And that's very important off the stages," says Oliver Solberg, urging drivers to drive calmly and safely.
