Skoda Auto India is currently on a launch spree and in June alone we have seen the company launch two highly-anticipated models - the new-gen Octavia sedan and the all-new Kushaq compact SUV. The latter, of course, is part of the company's India 2.0 project and is based on the heavily localised MQB-A0-IN platform. But Skoda does not plan to stop there. By the end of 2021, the company aims to launch a new mid-size sedan, which will also be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform.
While Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India has already talked about this while replying to Twitter users earlier. However, now Hollis has confirmed it while speaking with carandbike on the latest episode of Freewheeling with SVP. Speaking about the company's sales target Zac said that the company aims to sell 30,000 cars by end of this fiscal year, that is March 31, 2022, however, he also added, "At the end of this year, we'll bring a sedan into the marketplace, which is also off the back of the India 2.0 investment plan." Deliveries for the car will start in early 2022.
undefinedWe will launch a sedan from the India 2.0 project. This will be positioned above the current model and previewed at the end of the year, with deliveries starting early next year,
— Zac Hollis (@Zac_Hollis_) June 29, 2021
Now, the brand head of Skoda Auto India has already confirmed that the new sedan will not be a replacement for the Rapid, but rather, it will be positioned above it. Right now, the Rapid sedan is sold in India, priced between Rs. 7.79 lakh and Rs. 13.29 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Considering the new sedan will also be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, it's possible that the car will share some of its features with the newly launched Kushaq. Thus, we would expect the new Skoda sedan to be launched in the same price bracket as the Kushaq, which is between Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 17 lakh (ex-showroom, India). And it would certainly somewhat fill in the huge gap that is currently there between the Rapid and the Octavia sedan.
Also Read: Skoda Kushaq SUV Review
The Skoda Kushaq's 1.5-litre TSI engine could also be offered with the new sedan
It's too soon to comment on the technical specifications, however, it's safe to assume that the car will get the 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder engine that currently powers the Kushaq. The engine is tuned to make 113 bhp and 175 Nm of peak torque, while mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic torque converter unit. However, chances are, the Kushaq's 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI will also be offered, which belts out 148 bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque, and is mated to an optional 7-seed DSG automatic, in addition to the 6-speed manual.
While the company is likely to announce the official name later, last year, Skoda Auto trademarked the name Slavia in India, and we believe it could be the official name of the upcoming sedan.
