NEW DELHI: Czech carmaker Skoda is preparing aggressively for its much ambitious India 2.0 project. And now the first car under that project has been unveiled and it is called the Kushaq. The compact SUV is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, which has been specially adapted by the brand for the Indian market. In order to achieve the best possible level of localisation in India, Skoda has set up a new MQB production line at its Pune plant. Most of the development is taking place at the new technology centre, also in Pune, which the Czech carmaker opened in January 2019. The name of the mid-size SUV is derived from Sanskrit, and it means a king or an emperor.
EXTERIOR
The clear-cut headlights of the SUV feature a two-part design. In the higher variants, this design consists of an LED module behind a clear lens in the upper part for low beam and high beam, and a thin, L-shaped LED module for the daytime running lights. The indicators come with classic bulbs, as do the fog lights in the lower section. The LED tail lamps feature the brand-typical crystalline structures in the familiar C-shape. There are a number of VISION IN concept cars on which this production model is based. The ribs of the wide grille are gloss black and the chrome grille surround extends to the headlights. The upper section of the front bumper is body-coloured, the lower part is black. The SUV is 4,225 mm long, 1,760 mm wide and has a height of 1,612 mm. Its wheelbase is 2,651 mm and the ground clearance is 188 mm. Depending on the variants you will get either 16-inch or 17-inch wheels.
INTERIOR
The cabin is dominated by a central, free-standing infotainment touchscreen and a two-spoke multifunction steering wheel comes as standard. The higher trims are upholstered in leather and the automatic transmission or DSG also feature shift paddles. The 10-inch touchscreen features a dual tuner, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and an external microphone for hands-free phone calls. There are two USB-C ports in the centre console as well as two at the rear console for connecting and charging mobile devices. The Kushaq also features the brand’s typical ‘Simply Clever’ solutions, which include a non-slip base in the cup holder in the centre console, allowing the driver to easily and conveniently open a bottle placed there with just one hand. The Style variant also includes the Phone Box in the front, in which a smartphone can be charged inductively, and smartphone storage pockets on the front seatbacks. The SUV gets a boot space of 385 litres.
ENGINE
When launched Kushaq will come with 2 advanced TSI Petrol engines. The entry-level 1.0 TSI produces 115 PS from its displacement of one litre. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 1.5 TSI has a power output of 150 PS which is delivered to the front wheels via a manual 6-speed gearbox or a 7-speed DSG. Skoda is promising low fuel consumption on both the models.
SAFETY
The brand is offering a comprehensive range of active and passive safety features and assistance systems on the Kushaq. The SUV gets multi-collision brakes, six airbags and ISOFIX and top-tether anchor points on the rear seats to fit child seats that come as standard. All headrests are height-adjustable, and the centre seat in the rear is also equipped with a three-point seat belt. In addition to this you also get hill hold control, cruise control, auto headlamps and rain sensing wipers. A tyre pressure monitor is an optional extra.
LAUNCH
The Kushaq will be launched in the market in a few months from now. The company has confirmed that orders will be taken from June with the first units to be delivered in July. The two colours, metallic Honey Orange and Tornado Red, will be offered with the SUV exclusively in India. In addition, it will also be available in Candy White, metallic Reflex Silver, and metallic Carbon Steel colour options. The SUV will take on hugely popular cars like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos apart from the upcoming SUV from Volkswagen with which it will share its platform.