Czech car manufacturer, Skoda has confirmed that the Skoda Kushaq will make its debut in a world premiere on 18th March 2021. The ‘Kushaq’ moniker has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language which means King or Emperor. The name reverberates with the brand’s 125 years of heritage personifying the powerful SUV.
The Kushaq SUV is based on the Skoda Vision IN which made its debut in the concept for the 15th edition of the Auto Expo 2020 in Delhi. The brand is likely to retail the exteriors from the concept study into the series-production model. Despite being an SUV the Kushaq comes with sleek features as well as an imposing front fascia that features the hallmark Skoda grille in the butterfly shape, LED headlamps and taillamps, clamshell-style bonnet, muscular wheel arches, roof rails etc.
The Skoda Kushaq features the MQB-A0-IN which is the India-specific version of the MQB (Modular Transverse Matrix) architecture which offers efficiency, safety as well as roomy interiors and comfort. The Kushaq SUV will become Skoda’s first production model based on the MQB-A0-IN platform for both India and for the export market. The Kushaq comes with a 2,651 mm long wheelbase.
Powering the Skoda Kushaq will be a 1.0-litre Turbocharged Stratified Injection (TSI) turbo-petrol engine and another 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine. The brand will offer three gearbox options – a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed automatic and a 7-speed DSG. The SUV comes with a front-wheel-drive architecture to offer a balance between performance and efficiency.
The Skoda Kushaq will come with features such as multi-zone climate control air-conditioning, a central touchscreen infotainment system with MyŠKODA Connect, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a plethora of safety features such as ESC as a standard for all trims, up to six airbags, rain sensors, light sensors, cruise control system, Hill-Hold Control, and tyre pressure monitoring system depending on the trim.