The Skoda Kushaq is ready to see its international unveil in March later this yr. The mid-size SUV would be the first product beneath Skoda Auto Volkswagen India’s renewed efforts for our nation. With the hopes of the complete group driving on it, the Kushaq has been constructed with a selected concentrate on the Indian market. “It’s not simply the identify that’s Indian, however every little thing that this automobile does is Indian,” Gurpratap Boparai, managing director, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, instructed Autocar India on the sidelines of the Kushaq prototype check drive.
- Kushaq designed with suggestions from Indian clients
- SUV to be unveiled in March with localisation stage of 93 p.c
- Diesels to be given a miss; two turbo-petrol engines to be provided
India-specific design and engineering
Whereas Skoda hasn’t taken the wraps off the production-ready SUV’s styling simply but, the corporate did preview its upcoming product with the Imaginative and prescient IN idea on the 2020 Auto Expo. Commenting on the Kushaq’s design, Boparai mentioned, “That is the primary automobile (from Skoda) that has been designed with Indian buyer suggestions. So we held quite a few buyer clinics and we’ve designed this automobile based mostly on that.”
Even beneath the pores and skin, the SUV will characteristic India-specific components, together with the MQB A0 IN platform that’s been derived from the corporate’s European MQB A0 structure. Varied parts have been engineered for our circumstances. As an illustration, with increased ambient temperatures in India, there was no want to decide on parts for excessive chilly climate efficiency. This has allowed the corporate to pick out supplies like completely different plastics “with out compromising on their sturdiness within the setting during which the automobiles are going to function”, in the end serving to to rein in prices.
“We’ve additionally achieved different modifications that are extra related to India. In Europe,for instance,you are likely to have a extra distinguished transmission tunnel; these automobiles (in India) may have an virtually flat transmission tunnel,” mentioned Boparai. Nonetheless, he added that this won’t affect the chassis stiffness. “We have now ensured that the torsional rigidity of this automobile is considerably increased than the present technology of the Speedy.” Nonetheless, a flat transmission tunnel does rule out the opportunity of 4×4 capabilities for the SUV.
“Rear legroom was elementary and subsequently we have chosen the longest wheelbase obtainable on this platform,” talked about the group head. Although full technical particulars are but to be revealed, the Kushaq, with its 2,651mm wheelbase, pips direct rivals just like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos on the metric, although the Nissan Kicks and Renault Duster pack in an extended 2,673mm wheelbase nonetheless.
Localisation
VW Group automobiles in India have been characterised by modest ranges of native content material up to now, nonetheless, the Skoda Kushaq is ready to debut with 93 p.c localisation, which the corporate goals to extend to 95 p.c sooner or later.
“That’s the method ahead,” mentioned Boparai. Nonetheless, he added, “However the auto business in India nonetheless does not have the size for sure kind of parts. So, whereas we localise as a lot as we are able to, there’ll nonetheless be imports required, and that’s true for the complete business.” As such, the corporate expects imports to proceed primarily on the electronics entrance, reminiscent of sensors.
Skoda Kushaq petrol-only line-up
In a transfer just like lots of the automakers within the Indian market, Skoda will give diesels a miss with its newest product and solely supply 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines. Commenting on the enterprise case in opposition to oil burners, Boparai mentioned that the” economics of diesel is extraordinarily troublesome to justify now” and except a buyer drives for 50,000km per yr, the working advantages of diesels don’t materialise.
He additional added that the corporate’s turbo-petrol line-up may have a “sturdy efficiency” and be “gas environment friendly, particularly with cylinder-deactivation expertise” that we received a glimpse of within the Volkswagen T-Roc’s 1.5 TSI mill.
Nonetheless, there nonetheless stays a major demand for diesel within the mid-size SUV section, one thing that the remaining few gamers have capitalised on. As an illustration, the Hyundai Creta, regardless of getting a robust 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor, sees over 50 p.c of its clients selecting the 1.5-litre diesel choice as an alternative.
Skoda Kushaq value estimate
The corporate has hinted at eager pricing for the Kushaq which, nonetheless, will not severely undercut the competitors in an try and seize market share. “Clearly, we do wish to do volumes, so the automobile can be competitively priced. However we’ll proceed to be barely premium,” mentioned Boparai.
Having been engineered for India, with substantial localisation, and a selection of gas that a lot of its rivals are gravitating in direction of, the Kushaq does seemingly pack in lots of India-specific components, greater than another current Skoda. In consequence, whereas the upcoming SUV is ready to duke it out in probably the most aggressive segments in our market, with well-entrenched gamers like Hyundai, the VW Group head has “very excessive expectations of the automobile when it comes to volumes”.
Boparai is anticipating the upcoming 4 merchandise (the Skoda SUV and mid-size sedan, and their VW counterparts) beneath the India 2.0 plan to offer the group “shut to five p.c” market share in India by 2025. “After which, in fact, we should add different merchandise to get to five p.c,” he added.
Additionally see:
Skoda Kushaq prototype video evaluate
2021 Skoda Speedy Rider priced at Rs 7.79 lakh
2021 Skoda Excellent launched at Rs 31.99 lakh
