Skoda is preparing a new compact SUV for the Indian market scheduled to launch in 2020.
Taking the Volkswagen Group’s 2.0 Turnaround Plan forward, the first launch from Skoda in the Indian market will be an SUV. Scheduled to come out in 2020, it will be the first vehicle under the 2.0 Turnaround plan which was revealed in June 2018.
Skoda further confirmed that the SUV will be based on the MQB A0 architecture, which will be specially derived for India from the Volkswagen Group’s MQB global platform.
Volkswagen has designed this architecture in an effort to heavily localise the platform and thereby keep its costs in check. The new platform is also designed to incorporate the upcoming crash test standards which will come to effect starting 2020.
The new vehicle under this plan will be based on the upcoming Vision X concept which was revealed earlier this year. It is reportedly set to have a global unveil at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019. The model will incorporate the latest styling cues from Skoda with certain body panels and interior bits from the new Volkswagen T-Cross SUV.
The Skoda SUV will have an approximate length of 4.19 metres and an estimated wheelbase of 2.65 metres. It will enter the compact SUV segment which is currently seeing a heavy-spirited competition between new and old vehicles like the Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks, Renault Captur, Tata Harrier, etc. which consist a few of the lot.
The cabin design is expected to be well-furnished. Higher-priced variants will likely see a similar instrumentation package to the one available on the T-Cross SUV. The SUV is expected to be a five-seater. To allow for more legroom, Skoda will be providing a reclining seat option for the second row.
This can also be adjusted for more cargo space. The new SUV is said to be powered by a heavily localised 1.0 TSI petrol engine, capable of generating a maximum power of 115 HP. It is likely that there will be a CNG variant right from production.
Meanwhile, there are talks of creating a Volkswagen derivative which may be heavily based on the Indian-spec Skoda SUV. Other plans include an all-new sedan which can give competition to the Hyundai Verna and the Honda City. The company has also stated that it will study the feasibility of exporting these new vehicles to the global markets.
Skoda Compact SUV India
– Skoda to launch compact SUV after Volkswagen Group’s 2.0 Turnaround Plan
– This SUV will be based on the Vision X Concept and will have features from the T-Cross
– Compact SUV scheduled for launch in 2020
