Skoda coupe-SUV
Skoda boss Bernhard Maier has confirmed
that a coupe derivative of the upcoming Kodiaq large SUV will be sold in China,
and it could make its way to Europe as well.
The
coupe-SUV will focus on style over practicality in a first for the brand.
It's set to take on popular coupe-style SUVs like the Range Rover Evoque and BMW
X4, but it's likely to offer much better value for money that those upmarket
models.
The as-yet-unnamed competitor for the
BMW X4 and forthcoming Mercedes GLC Coupe will get a swept-back profile and
sloping roofline, plus tall suspension and a raised driving position. Expect
big alloy wheels and a Superb-style front end, as well as sharp creases in the
bodywork and a high boot lip for that coupe look.
Inside, the new car will feel largely
familiar to owners of current Skodas and other VW Group models, although we
expect advances in technology to make it sharper and even more solidly built
than any of the brand’s existing cars. A central touchscreen is likely to come
as standard, along with various market-leading safety technologies and
infotainment options.
Power will come from a range of existing
VW Group petrol and diesel engines, while buyers will be offered a selection of
manual and DSG automatic gearboxes. A GreenLine version is also set to be an
option, promising CO2 emissions of less than 110 g/km and 60 mpg fuel economy.
Plug-in hybrids could also join the range at a later date.
As a result, this new model is likely to
better the BMW X4 for boot space, with more head and legroom and improved
internal storage. The X4 features a 500-litre boot (50 litres down on the
boxier X3), with a maximum of 1,400 litres if you fold the rear seats flat. As
with the BMW, the Skoda will remain a strict five-seater, despite being based
on the upcoming seven-seat flagship SUV.
As is the case with Skoda’s popular
Yeti, the coupe-cum-SUV will be offered with a choice of front and four-wheel
drive. The raised ride height will help with ground clearance, while underbody
cladding will give it a degree of off-road ability. Like the BMW, though, this
new model will be primarily designed for the road – with weighty steering and
adjustable driving modes.
The new coupe-SUV will form part of a
four-strong crossover range due to be revealed in the coming months. After the
introduction of Skoda’s all-new seven-seater in 2016, the brand will launch the
new Yeti 12 months later. The revised model will build on the current car’s
success, albeit with a more conventional SUV body, rather than the existing
model’s van-like shape.