Earlier this year, Skoda confirmed that a Made-in-India compact SUV will be launched sometime in mid 2020. It will be based on the MQB A0 platform and will have 90% localization allowing the company to price the SUV from around Rs 10 lakhs.
This new compact SUV, will make global debut as a concept at the 2018 Paris Motor Show next month. Called Skoda Vision RS, it will be the smallest SUV in the company line-up globally.
Skoda’s compact SUV will compete with the likes of Hyundai Creta, upcoming Tata Harrier, Maruti Suzuki Vitara, etc. The compact SUV production variant is still unnamed. The name could start with the letter K and end with a Q as is seen in the case of the Kodiaq, Karoq and Kamiq.
Though no details of the upcoming 5 seater SUV have been revealed, Skoda has confirmed its dimensions. The new Skoda Vision RS concept is 4,356 millimetres long and 1,810 millimetres wide, with a height of just 1,431 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,650 millimetres.
It is slated to be positioned under the premium Karoq and Kodiaq in the company’s lineup for India. It will be specially designed to perform well on Indian road conditions and is set to borrow styling cues from both the Kodiaq and Karoq SUVs.
The SUV could sport a Skoda butterfly grille with LED headlamps and DRLs while front bumper will sport a large air dam. Design elements on its sides could include a distinctive character line running from head lamps to tail lamps, flared wheel arches and 16” alloy wheels. The rear end could receive C shaped LED tail lamps as are also seen on the Kodiaq with plastic cladding.
The upcoming compact SUV from Skoda will be seen with spacious interiors comfortable for upto 5 adults with plenty of head and leg room. It will get a panoramic sunroof on its top end variants and quality interiors.
Engine specifications could include turbocharged petrol and diesel engine options. It could be 1.0 liter or 1.5 liter petrol engine options also seen powering the current range of Skoda models and a 1.6 liter TDI seen on the Skoda Rapid sedan. Skoda could also include an AWD option so as to compete with rivals.