The first unit of the much-awaited Skoda Kushaq has rolled off the production line at Volkswagen's Chakan plant in Pune, under the India 2.0 project. This all-new SUV might launch by the end of this month, while the bookings are expected to begin by next week. Once launched, the Kushaq will go up against the popular Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Nissan Kicks, MG Hector, Tata Harrier and its VW sibling, Taigun, which is expected to arrive in the next couple of months. The Kushaq is expected to be priced around INR 10-15 lakh (ex-showroom).
Also Read: Skoda Kushaq: Top-5 Highlights
In terms of design, the Kushaq is quite eye-catching, thanks to its prominent grill and aesthetic front bumper. The silhouette of this SUV draws inspiration from the Karoq. Despite the similarities, the Kushaq's bold look, shorter dimensions and distinctive appeal make it stand apart from the rest of the brand's SUV lineup. The cabin also gets a 10-inch infotainment system with Skoda play app, wireless charging, ambient lighting, and much more.
Mechanically speaking, the Kushaq will be available with 2 engine options: a 1.0 TSI and a 1.5 TSI engine. The 1-litre engine will produce around 115 PS of power, while the bigger 1.5-litre will produce about 150 PS of power. Both the engine options will be offered with 6-speed manual transmissions, but the 6-speed automatic will only be available with the 1.0-litre TSI, while the 7-speed DSG will be exclusive to the larger 1.5-litre. Unfortunately, the TDIs won't be coming back due to the new BS6 regulations.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director, ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd, said, “The production rollout of the first car under the India 2.0 project marks a historic milestone for ŠKODA AUTO and the Volkswagen Group in India. It stands testament to a great collaboration between our teams across the globe and here in India. We have managed to achieve localisation levels up to 95 per cent, which truly puts the engineering and manufacturing expertise of India on the global map. With ŠKODA KUSHAQ, we will be present in one of the fastest-growing segments of the automotive industry. We look forward to offering customers an SUV that stands out for its emotive design, unmatched performance, superior build quality, outstanding safety, and numerous Simply Clever solutions, enabling an exemplary value proposition.”
Mr Zac Hollis, Brand Director – ŠKODA AUTO India, said “With the start of production of the all-new KUSHAQ, we are looking at a new chapter to mark the success story of ŠKODA AUTO in India. India’s preference for SUVs has continued to grow steadily over the years. The KUSHAQ will offer an unparalleled driving experience and brings together all the attributes that matter to an SUV buyer. The team is gearing up for the launch later this month. We have already increased our network reach substantially and have instituted several best practices towards ensuring customer delight. With KUSHAQ, we are looking forward to welcoming more customers into the ŠKODA family.”
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