Skoda Karoq will not launch in India before BS6 rollout in April 2020
In July 2018, Skoda Auto revealed its interest in introducing the Karoq in India. The Skoda Karoq is one of the two new SUVs that the Czech car marque intends to launch in India by 2021.
While the second of these, which is the company's MQB-AO-IN-based SUV, will arrive in 2021, the Skoda Karoq will be introduced in India in 2020. Speaking on the launch timeline of the premium SUV in an exclusive interaction with IndianAutosBlog.com, Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director, Skoda Auto India Pvt Ltd, said -
Karoq is still being evaluated. It is one of the products that is being evaluated currently. If it comes, it will be through the CKD route.
On being asked if the new model would launch in India in 2019, Mr Boparai confirmed that the company plans to wait for BSVI emission norms to come into force in April 2020 before releasing the new model. Unveiled in May 2017, the Skoda Karoq is the spiritual successor of the Yeti, positioned below the Kodiaq. It entered production in Europe in July 2017 and due to the rush, Skoda, since January 2018, also makes it at the second plant.
The India-spec Skoda Karoq is expected to be powered by a 2.0-litre TDI turbocharged diesel engine that outputs a maximum power of 150 PS. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG automatic unit. AWD hardware is standard. That said, the transmission option(s) and availability of AWD in India will be revealed only close to the SUV's launch date.
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In India, the Karoq will lock horns with the top-spec Jeep Compass and Hyundai Tucson, priced in the INR 20-25 lakh (ex-showroom) bracket. Assembly of the CKD kits imported from Kvasiny or Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic, will take place at the company's Aurangabad-based facility in Maharashtra.
Meanwhile in Europe, Skoda is gearing up to unveil a smaller SUV in early 2019 (counterpart of the VW T-Cross) which could be branded the Skoda Kosmiq.