3 upcoming Skoda cars for 2021

Skoda India has been leading the India 2.0 Strategy of Volkswagen Group. This new strategy consists of Skoda launching 3 new cars for the Indian market next year. So, there will be a SUV and 2 new sedans. 

Skoda Compact SUV based on Vision IN concept

The Vision IN Concept was showcased at the Auto Expo 2020 by Skoda. It will be a mid-size SUV that will be manufactured on the MQB AO IN platform. It will be powered by a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine producing 110 Bhp and 175 Nm which we have also seen on the Skoda Rapid, Volkswagen Vento and Polo. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. There will also be a 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine borrowed from the Volkswagen T-Roc and the Skoda Karoq.

Also read: All-new 2020 Honda City gets a body kit

The engine is capable of producing 148 Bhp of max power and 250 Nm of torque. It will be mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The SUV will measure 4,256 mm in length, 1,589 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,671 mm. It will go against the likes of Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta. The underpinnings of the new mid-size SUV will also be shared by the Volkswagen Taigun. There is a possibility that the new SUV might be called Skoda Kliq or Kosmiq. The production version of Vision IN has been spotted testing on Indian roads and is expected to be launched in mid-2021.

Skoda Octavia

Skoda Octavia was due for a new generation and it was supposed to be launched in September 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the launch was postponed to the first half of 2021. The new-gen Octavia is a significant departure from the current design. It will be 19mm longer and 15 mm wider than the current-gen, but the wheelbase of the sedan has not been changed. Skoda’s butterfly grille is now more prominent and it is flanked by a new set of more elegant LED headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps. The rear gets new split LED tail lamps and the Skoda badging is now spaced-out over the rear boot.

The cabin of the Octavia is also redesigned. It now gets a new 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It will also feature Skoda’s Smartlink+ connected car technology, 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit instead of traditional dials and the three-spoke steering wheel is replaced by two-spoke steering. Skoda Octavia will be offered with two petrol engines. The 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine will be derived from the Skoda Karoq and the Volkswagen T-Roc. It produces 148 Bhp while the more powerful 2.0-litre TSI petrol motor produces 187 Bhp. Both the engines will be mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox.

Skoda Rapid replacement: New mid-size sedan (ANB) 

There is not much information available about the new mid-size sedan by Skoda that will be replacing the Rapid which now does look a bit old when compared to the competitors. It is internally known as Skoda ANB. The new mid-size sedan will be built on MQB AO IN which is shared with Vision IN Concept.

It will be propelled by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit which is shared by the VW Polo, Vento and the current Rapid. The engine produces 108 Bhp of max power and peak torque output of 175 Nm. There will be a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox on offer. The new-sedan is expected to hit the Indian market by the end of 2021. It will be competing against the likes of the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.

Also read: Made-in-India SUVs used by Foreign Military & Police Forces: From Tata Hexa to Mahindra Bolero Camper

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