Skoda Superb facelift with 2.0 TSI India launch in May 2020

While we had previously reported that Zac Hollis, director, Sales, Service & Marketing, Skoda Auto India had confirmed the Skoda Superb and Kodiaq will get a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine next year, he has now reiterated this on Twitter, confirming that the Superb facelift with the 2.0 TSI engine will launch by May 2020. His Tweet also confirmed that the Skoda Kodiaq will also get this engine sometime later in 2020.

Superb May, Kodiaq later in 2020��

— Zac Hollis (@Zac_Hollis_) December 13, 2019

We’ve been reporting on the Skoda Superb facelift coming to India in early 2020, and this news confirms that the refreshed model will get the 2.0 TSI engine. Whether the current 180hp, 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine will continue in BS6 form, is yet to be confirmed.

This move is a part of the Volkswagen Group’s India 2.0 plan that will see all current Skoda and Volkswagen cars become petrol-only models. While diesel engines are expected to be offered at a later date, the German and Czech brands won’t have a diesel unit on sale for the first few months of the implementation of BS6 norms in India. To compensate for this, larger Skoda models like the Superb and Kodiaq will get the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol.

At least in international markets, this engine is available in multiple states of tune. In fact, the engine has also been available in India – making 230hp under the hood of the Octavia RS230 – and will also be available with the Octavia RS245 (producing 245hp) that will arrive soon. However, in Skoda’s flagship sedan and SUV, the four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine will be available in a lower state of tune; the UK-spec Kodiaq has the same mill producing 190hp and 320Nm of torque. Despite this, the 2.0 TSI should make the sedan and SUV more exciting to drive than the 2.0 TDI engine which currently makes 150hp and 340Nm of torque in the Kodiaq.

Further details have yet to be confirmed but we can expect the Superb to have the 2.0 TSI engine mated to a 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic, sending power to the front wheels. The Kodiaq will come with the same engine-gearbox combination, albeit with all-wheel drive.