Skoda India’s next big launch is its first compact SUV, the Kylaq. Positioned below the Kushaq, it will go on sale early next year. Sources tell us that production of the Skoda Kylaq will commence by October this year.
Skoda Kylaq: production details
The Kylaq compact SUV shares the same MQB A0 IN platform with the Kushaq and the Slavia, as its Volkswagen counterparts, the Virtus and the Taigun. The Skoda compact SUV will be built alongside the Kushaq, at the Chakan plant.
Skoda is planning an annual production count of around 50,000 to 70,000 units of the Kylaq. This means the brand has plans to manufacture around 4,000 to 5,800 units each month. The Kylaq will be initially sold in the domestic market, however, Skoda will also export the compact SUV, to facilitate better economies of scale.
Skoda Kylaq: what to expect
Initial teaser images and sketches suggest a familiar Skoda design language, but Skoda also says the Kylaq will be the first model to bring the brand’s ‘Modern Solid’ design language with typical SUV attributes to India. So, some design cues seen on sketches of the recently unveiled Skoda Elroq can also be expected. The Kylaq will get split headlamps and a wide grille with vertical slats. The compact SUV will have a slightly shorter wheelbase than the Kushaq and will have tighter front and rear overhangs in order to duck under the crucial four metre length.
The Kylaq’s interior is expected to closely resemble that of the Kushaq, and Skoda will likely equip it with more features than it currently offers in the Kushaq and Slavia. So, features such as a 360-degree camera and an ADAS suite could be part of the package, right from launch.
Powering the Kylaq will be the sole 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine good for 115hp and 178Nm of torque. Gearbox choices will include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic.
Key rivals will include the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, and the Maruti Brezza. Pricing for the Kylaq will be crucial and we expect the brand to leverage the already heavily localized MQB A0 IN platform and price the Kylaq aggressively right from launch.
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