Skoda has as many as three upcoming cars – Superb Facelift, Karoq and BS6 Rapid 1.0L TSI – lined up for a launch as soon as the lockdown ends in the country.
The ongoing coronavirus crisis has delayed several processes in the automotive industry and that includes major new launches as well. Just one brand, Skoda, has as many as three new upcoming cars lined up right after the lockdown is lifted – the Karoq, the Superb facelift and the new BS6 Rapid 1.0L TSI. All three cars were displayed at the 2020 Auto Expo and will be launched successively after the country has overcome the coronavirus crisis.
We expect the 2020 Skoda Superb facelift will be the first car to be launched after the lockdown as it was supposed to go on sale in April itself. This full-size executive sedan from Skoda gets minor cosmetic changes to the front and rear fascia with some revisions to the interiors as well. Under the hood, its powered by a 2.0L TSI petrol engine that puts out 190bhp and 320Nm of torque with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox option likely to be the only gearbox option. You can expect it to be priced around Rs 30 lakh and it goes up against the Toyota Camry.
Following the Superb facelift, we expect the Karoq SUV to be next in the line. This SUV has been a long time coming and it will mark SKoda’s return to the mid-size SUV segment after the Yeti. The Skoda Karoq will be powered by a 1.5L TSI petrol engine that puts out 150PS 250Nm of torque. The Karoq will rival the likes of the Jeep Compass, the Kia Seltos, the Tata Harrier and the Volkswagen T-Roc. In fact, the Karoq is mostly a sister car to the T-Roc and we are expecting it to be priced upwards of Rs 17 lakh.
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Lastly, there’s the Rapid and Skoda’s most affordable car in India is still due its BS6 update. The current-gen Rapid has been on sale for many years now with very minimal changes over time. Its new 1.0L TSI engine is a huge update for the sedan in a long time and this will be the most powerful version of the Rapid ever sold in India. The engine puts out 110bhp and 175Nm of torque and is likely to be paired with a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The new Rapid will see its price starting from around Rs 10 lakh.
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Going forward into 2021, we also have a brand new generation of the Octavia coming in and even the Rapid is due a replacement in 2021. Skoda will have updated its entire portfolio by next year but the manufacturer has taken a call against the sale of diesel engines in their cars. However, if there’s still sufficient demand for the same in the BS6 era, it could very well make a comeback. Meanwhile, these three upcoming cars from Skoda will span the entry-level sedan, mid-size SUV, and full-size sedan segments.
