Kylaq: Skoda Auto develops new SUV for Indian market

Skoda Auto has developed a new small SUV for the Indian market. After Kushaq and Slavia, Kylaq is Skoda's third locally developed and manufactured model in India.

Skoda has scheduled the world premiere of its new model for November 6. This week it unveiled the Kylaq silhouette with special camouflage to mark the company’s 24-year-presence on the Indian market. The compact SUV will be manufactured at Skoda's 18.5 MW solar-powered plant in Pune.

The car's design is meant to reflect Indian cultural motifs and colours, as is the name, which is inspired by Mount Kailas and the Sanskrit word for crystal. The compact SUV measures 3995 mm in length, has a wheelbase of 2566 mm and a ground clearance of 189 mm. It is designed for city streets, but it won't fail you on hard-to-drive roads either. The car is powered by a 1.0 TSI engine with 85 kW (115 hp) and 178 Nm of torque, with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. It comes equipped with a host of driver assistance systems, including multi-collision braking and six airbags. It uses eco-friendly materials including bamboo fabric used for some components and cabin upholstery.

Skoda Auto sold more than 100,000 cars in India between 2022 and 2023. India is the company’s largest market outside of Europe after a sales slump in China and its exit from Russia. It is also responsible for the activities of the entire Volkswagen Group in India.