Skoda's Enyaq RS iV, the second all-electric member of the sporty RS family, has broken two official ice-drifting world records. The records for "Longest continuous drift by a car on ice" and "Longest continuous drift by a vehicle on ice in an electric car" have been verified by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS. British automotive writer Richard Meaden broke the records over a 188.496-meter circuit on frozen Lake Stortjärnen in Sweden on Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Skoda achieved the world record for the longest vehicle drift on ice on Lake Stortjärnen. Over more than 15 minutes, Richard Meaden piloted the recently unveiled Skoda Enyaq RS iV across a distance of 7.351 kilometers while drifting. This is a new, verified record. When this record was broken in China in 2022, the previous mark was 6.231 kilometers, established in 2022. Meaden and the Skoda Enyaq RS iV broke another record simultaneously: "Longest continuous drift of a vehicle on ice in an electric vehicle."
Skoda set the record on the fourth day following extensive practice with various tire setups under the watchful eye of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS referee and international drift judge David Kalas. Skoda spent 18 hours across five days to get the "perfect drift."
On its record run, the Skoda Enyaq RS iV showed its mettle under difficult conditions by completing 39 laps of the drift course in just 15 minutes and 58 seconds. The Skoda Enyaq RS iV's fastest recorded speed was 48.69 km/h, while its slowest was 31.64 km/h.
Skoda used a standard production car outfitted with 20-inch alloy wheels to try and break the record. On the front axle, we used Michelin Däckproffsen 245/35-R20 tires with 600 5mm studs; on the back, we used Nokian Hakkapelitta 255/45-R20 tires with 300 2mm studs; together, these tires provided optimal traction on the 40-centimeter-thick ice.
Skoda, newly-crowned record holder Richard Meaden, and the initials RS are all back in the record books thanks to these two GUINNESS WORLD RECORDSTM titles. In 2011, Richard Meaden broke the record for fastest land speed in a turbocharged 2.0-liter production vehicle when he drove a Skoda Octavia RS produced in Great Britain at 227.080 mph (365.45 km/h) on a track certified by the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA). Meaden accomplished this feat on the world-famous Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States.
Of the current accomplishments, Richard Meaden said: "To break yet another record while piloting a Skoda model is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Two vehicles set records on two different terrains: the American Bonneville Salt Flats and a frozen lake in Scandinavia. After a hiatus of 12 years, I am once again a contributing member of a record-setting squad, which fills me with immense pride. No one anticipated that we would be driving an electric vehicle while sliding on the ice. This is evidence that the automotive industry is extremely dynamic and fascinating."
The Skoda Enyaq RS iV's sports suspension drops the car 15 millimeters in the front and 10 millimeters in the back compared to the standard Skoda Enyaq iV. Dynamic Chassis Control is an added extra that, along with the progressive steering and Drive Mode Select driving profile selection, helps to guarantee optimal traction. The sports seats have black leather covers, and the steering wheel and instrument panel are upholstered in black leather. The external highlights are coated in glossy black.
The Skoda Enyaq RS iV is the company's second all-electric vehicle. It has two electric motors and a battery pack of 82 kWh (77 kWh net) to produce 299 hp(1) and reach 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. Impressive peak torque of 460 Nm guarantees agile handling and responsive performance. The battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 36 minutes thanks to the rapid charging capability of 135 kW of output.
