Upcoming Skoda Car Launches: Slavia Facelift To Epiq
Skoda’s latest launch in India has been the facelifted Kushaq. Deliveries of this vehicle are already underway. The carmaker, however, has no plans to slow down and is readying more products for the Indian market. Here’s a closer look at what to expect from Skoda in the coming months.
The Kylaq is Skoda’s hottest-selling model in India and has sold over 50,000 units in just over a year. Its strategic placement in the sub-four-metre SUV space, smart packaging and competitive pricing have made the Kylaq a success.
In the near future, this SUV will get a sportier variant called ‘Sportline’. It will continue using the same engine- 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol making 113hp and 178Nm. The update may, however, bring an important change in the transmissions offered. The 6-speed torque converter automatic on the current model will likely be replaced with a new 8-speed automatic transmission.
The carmaker is also expected to update the Slavia sedan in the near term. The facelifted Slavia has already been spied on test multiple times, hinting at noticeable changes to the front fascia, wheels, rear and other areas of design. Inside, the colour schemes are likely to change and features like a larger touchscreen, bigger driver display, and possibly a massage function for the rear seat- likely mirroring updates on the new Kushaq.
The facelift will use the same set of engines as the outgoing model- 1.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol and the more powerful 1.5L TSI turbo-petrol. The former will come with the option of a 6-speed manual and a new 8-speed automatic transmission while the latter will likely be offered only with the DSG automatic transmission.
Skoda recently showcased its entry-level electric SUV Epiq. This compact electric SUV is likely to be brought to the Indian market in the future. If so, it will become the carmaker’s most affordable EV here. The Epiq is based on the MEB+ platform and comes with two battery options- 38.5 kWh and 55 kWh. The former is an LFP unit while the latter has NMC chemistry. The 55kWh variant has a claimed range of 440 km per charge.
In India, the Epiq will have to compete with models like the Tata Curvv.EV, Mahindra BE 6, Hyundai Creta Electric and Maruti eVitara.
The first batch of Octavia RS, comprising 100 units, got sold out in India, in no time. This overwhelming response has made Skoda plan the next batch sometime soon. The sedan will remain mostly unchanged in terms of design but will see the addition of more features. It will come with a 13-inch touchscreen, 12-speaker Canton audio, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, gesture-controlled powered tailgate and more.
Powering the Octavia RS is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that makes 265 hp and 370 Nm. It will be able to do the 0-100 kph sprint in just 6.4 seconds. We may see a slight upward revision in prices this time.
The Kodiaq RS is the performance-oriented version of the SUV. It gets a sportier design with more Blacked out elements, RS-specific bumpers and several other cosmetic enhancements. It will be powered by the 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine in a state to make 265hp and 370Nm.
Skoda also has plans to bring back diesel-powered products. Two of these will be the Superb and the Kodiaq. These will be brought in limited numbers as CBUs. They will both be powered by a 2.0-litre TDI turbocharged diesel engine. On the SUV, it will make arounjd 190hp and 360Nm while on the sedan, the same will be able to produce 190hp and 400Nm. Both are expected to come with an All Wheel Drive (AWD) system, and launch later this year.