Small SUVs for emerging markets are becoming a trend in the automotive world and Škoda couldn’t be missing from the party. The Czech automaker is reportedly considering a new high-riding model with a length below 4 meters that could be sold in India and other similar markets. Škoda has recently taken charge of the MQB A0 platform development for the whole Volkswagen Group. The Slavia sedan and the Kushaq B-SUV that were developed and produced in India are both based on the MQB A0 IN derivative of the platform as part of the India 2.0 plan.
Speaking to Autocar India, Thomas Schäfer,
chairman of the board at Škoda, admitted that the company is looking into a
smaller SUV stating: “The sub-4m segment is a tough segment. It’s got to have a
good margin and look good”. The high-ranked official added that the platform
carries around 70 percent of the vehicle’s value, proudly stating that now they
have the responsibility for the MQB A0, they can “really dive into it”.
However, he said there is “still homework to be done” since it is not an easy
task, adding “we’re not quite finished
with it yet”. Schäfer said that in order to make it feasible, the new product
should not be limited to India but aim at global export. If the project gets
the green light, the budget-friendly SUV could sit on a slightly shrunk version
of the MQB A0 IN architecture. The naturally aspirated 1.0 MPI and the
turbocharged 1.0 TSI gasoline engines from VW Group’s parts bin sound like a
great fit for the ever-growing segment.
The sub-4 meters length
would make it shorter than the India-bound Kushaq (4,225 mm), the
European-spec Kamiq (4,241 mm), and the Chinese-spec Kamiq (4,390
mm), which are all classified as B-SUVs. The new model sounds
like a direct rival to the Citroën New C3, which debuted recently as a small
SUV for India and South America, measuring 3.98 meters in
length. Other rivals sold in different markets would include the likes of the
Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Nissan Magnite, Honda ZR-V, Toyota Raize, and Tata
Nexon.
