स्कोडा Kushaq

The upcoming mid-size SUV, Kushaq was unveiled and showcased by Skoda at the 2020 Auto Expo as the Vision IN Concept. Recently, the Czech carmaker also announced that the premiere of the production-ready model of the Kushaq will take place in India on 18 March 2021.

The Kushaq will be underpinned by Volkswagen’s MQB-A0-IN platform which has been specifically developed for Indian road conditions. The concept measured 4.26metre in length and had a wheelbase of 2,651mm. Up front, the Kushaq wears the signature butterfly-grille flanked by two-tier headlamps. The lower portion of the front bumper gets large faux air inlets complemented by black cladding and silver skid plates at the bottom. On the side, the Kushaq could get a petal-type design for the alloy wheels surrounded by black cladding on the pronounced wheel arches.

Skoda has shared the design sketches of the interior which is a contrast three-coloured theme featuring a free-standing 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a virtual cockpit with a two-spoke steering wheel. The aircon vents are placed below the infotainment screen while the centre console will get cup holders, a manual hand brake, and armrest with storage space. The Kushaq is also likely to get the modern connectivity features that are offered by most of the OEMs in the segment.

Under the hood, Skoda has confirmed that the Kushaq will be powered by two petrol engines – 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre TSI. There will be no diesel engine on offer. Transmission options will include a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic, and a seven-speed DSG unit. On the safety front, the Kushaq will be equipped with up to six airbags, hill-hold control, tyre pressure monitor, cruise control, and so on.

The Kushaq will be the first model to be launched under the brand’s 2.0 project and will be produced locally at the Pune plant with up to 95 per cent of localisation. When launched in India, the Kushaq will have to prove its mettle against the likes of the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, MG Hector, Tata Harrier, and the Jeep Compass.