Skoda Auto India has announced that it is planning to introduce a new sub-4 metre sports utility vehicle by March 2025. The upcoming subcompact SUV will take inspiration from the Slavia and Kushaq, which are Skoda’s new made-in-India offerings. Today, the Czech carmaker only showcased the first sketch of the forthcoming SUV. The new model will be developed in India, and it is all set to hit the market next year.
The SUV will be based on the MQB A0 IN platform, which manufactures the Skoda Slavia and Kushaq. The upcoming SUV is yet to be named by the brand, and it has been teased for the first time in the country. The Head of International Sales Management at Skoda Auto, Petr Janeba, said that the new car will help the company bag sales of one lakh PVs in India within the first year of its launch. It will also double the brand’s market share. The company is also planning to set up a separate production line for the upcoming sub-4 metre SUV. "There is an appetite for premium vehicles which are still accessible, which is what our subcompact SUV will be all about features not seen before."
Read more: 2024 Hyundai i20 N Line Facelift Unveiled
In the SUV segment, the new model will help the brand find its way into Tier 3 and Tier 4 locations in the country. This SUV is likely to target a 5-star rating in NCAP crash tests. Skoda is working to manufacture around 90,000 units of the new model annually. The new model will be launched in both domestic and global markets. The SUV will be retailed in select global markets like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North Africa. The new car will share several specifications like components, engine, and body panel with the Kushaq mid-sized SUV.
The Skoda SUV appears to feature Skoda’s butterfly grille and split headlamps, along with LED DRLs. It is expected to be powered by a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine with torque and a manual converter AT gearbox. This unit produces 110 bhp of power and a peak torque of 200 Nm. The compact model with a 1.0-litre unit will enjoy lower tax relaxation applicable to models that come with an engine capacity less than 1.2-litres and are under 4 meters in length.
According to reports, Volkswagen is also anticipated to launch its own version of this car. However, the brand is currently focusing on developing EVs. After its launch in the Indian market, the new sub-4 metre compact SUV will rival the likes of the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, and the Mahindra XUV300.
