Škoda Kushaq - Made in India, Made for the World

Škoda Kushaq (Vision IN)

Škoda had showcased Vision IN as a concept vehicle at the Auto Expo 2020 and this very Vision IN will be the new offering to the Indian market as Škoda Kushaq. Kushaq has been formulated in India by Škoda and the manufacturer is preparing for its second innings under the "India 2.0 Project".

Vision IN

Vision IN concept is designed with an aggressive front look, a wide bonnet houses the rib shaped grill adjacent to it are split headlights with a large angular bumper holding the chrome-finished front spoiler and huge air intakes.

A typical Volkswagen design at the back can be observed at first glance with inverted L-shaped taillights. Major design ethics of Vision IN will be passed on to the Kushaq.

What does Kushaq mean? (Answer at the end of the blog)

Segmentation

Kushaq will be placed to heat up the space of midsize SUVs and will be profoundly inspired by Škoda Kodiaq concept. Kushaq is built on the MQB-A0-IN platform keeping in mind Indian conditions & requirements and it will be used to anchor upcoming Volkswagen and Škoda cars including Volkswagen Tiguan, which was recently spied with its test mule plying on Indian roads.
MQB Platform

MQB stands for Modular Transverse Matrix, the main advantage is its incredible use of space moreover MQB-A0-IN has been designed considering the Indian outlook and developed by taking Indian customer inputs. The platform is designed to root a wide array of cars ranging from supermini to midsized SUV. MQB will allow assembly of any of its cars based on this platform in the MQB ready factories giving the advantage to shift production as required between its different factories.

Engine
Škoda is likely to offer 2 engine options both will be petrol motors, a 1.0L 3-cylinder TSI producing 120PS and 200NM torque, and second a newly build 1.5L 4-cylinder TSI likely to generate 150PS with 250NM torque. Škoda India might give diesel motor a skip as Czech automaker will plant diesel engines in bigger vehicles for the Indian market. The talking point of the Kushaq will be the 1.0L 3-cylinder engine which is available in the current generation Škoda Rapid.

Transmission

The smaller capacity engine is expected to get a 6-speed manual transmission and 6-speed automatic torque converter gearbox, while the larger capacity engine will likely be equipped with a 7-speed DSG gearbox.

Dimensions

Kushaq will be slightly longer than 4-Metre standing at 4256mm, the wheelbase will be 2651mm, and the height of 1589mm approximately. Looking at the design element Kushaq will carry forward Škoda’s signature twin ribs grill design from the other Škoda models. Kushaq will be offered in a 5-seater configuration.

Infotainment

A 7-inch head unit along with a 4-speaker audio setup linked to a multi-functional steering wheel will be offered as standard fitment. Higher variants are expected to be equipped with a 10-inch and 12.3-inch touch screen audio setup with a sub-woofer placed in the boot.

Features
1. Apple Car Play/Android Auto
2. Connected car technology
3. Cruise control
4. Dual-zone climate control
5. 6 Airbags
6. ESC (Electronic Stability Control) standard on all variants
7. TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System)
8. Hill Hold Control
9. Isofix for rear seats
10. Auto headlamps
11. Auto wiper
The Global unveil of Kushaq is scheduled for the month of March 2021, while the vehicle will be launched mid of this year in India. Production-ready Kushaq is expected to retain the design fundamentals from the Vision IN concepts like the split projector headlamps with LED DRLs, inverted LED tail lamps and a panoramic sunroof. The top speed can be expected to be 195kmph. Cylinder deactivation technology which is present in high-end cars can be part of the package.

Strategy
Under "India 2.0 Project" the vehicle will be manufactured in India for the global market and will be exported to the new markets around the globe apart from Škoda’s exiting markets, with heavy localization starting at 92% in the initial phase and later scaling it up to 95%. Škoda India has plans to market Kushaq as a Value Luxury Midsize SUV in a hotly contested segment and will be a direct rival to Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Mahindra XUV300, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. Kushaq will be placed in a price bracket between ₹10L to ₹16L and can be marketed as a "Spacious but Compaq yet easy to manoeuvre midsized SUV".

Kushaq Meaning
Kushaq actually means Emperor, that’s why you will see Kalamkari design inspired from the Indian Art on the interior of the concept vehicle Vision IN.

With Škoda entering the midsized SUV segment for the first time, let's see how Indian consumers act in response to the Kushaq. For Škoda brand lovers who find themselves thirsty for something new, there's a storm of new cars coming this year like Kodiaq, New Rapid, Scala & Octavia.

#SkodaIndia #Kushaq