The Skoda Kamiq crossover has been designed and
developed specifically for Chinese urban customers, and will be showcased
publicly next week, April 25, at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. The Kamiq also possesses what Skoda calls a “rugged
character”, built into the Czech automaker’s SUV design language. Its grille
and headlights form one unit, while the lower side panels flow towards the
rear, putting an emphasis on the wheel arches.
These official drawings confirm pretty much
everything we saw yesterday when Chinese media got a hold of more images
showing the new model completely undisguised, while also giving us a first-time
look at the interior design.
As opposed to the Kodiaq or the Karoq, this latest
high-riding model from Skoda features a different center console design. It’s simpler and doesn’t come with any grab handles. This in turn means
more storage space, something that’s also available directly on top of the
dashboard.
While the model spotted in China had an automatic
gearbox, the sketch shows a manual transmission, which we suspect will come
standard on base grade versions, working alongside a 110 PS 1.5-liter
petrol engine.
China happens to be Skoda’s strongest single market
in the world, as one in every four Skoda-badged vehicles is sold there. Last
year, the automaker increased deliveries by 2.5% to 325,000 units, making 2017
their best year to date since re-entering the Chinese market back in 2007.
The 2018 Skoda Kamiq is expected to go on sale this
summer, with pricing estimated to start at 90,000 – 100,000 yuan (US$ 14,327 – US$ 15,919).
