God-awful SUV-coupé coming next.
Capitalising on their biggest market and enormous segment growth, Czech carmaker Skoda has strengthened its SUV lineup in China with the introduction of a new compact crossover. Dubbed the ‘Kamiq,’ it’s one of two SUVs that Skoda will be unveiling for the Chinese market in the very near future, the latter being a coupe-roofed Kodiaq GT.
The Kamiq forms an integral part of Skoda’s product offensive that’ll help the carmaker achieve its aim of doubling its sales in China from 300,000 annually to 600,000 annually. Skoda boss Bernhard Maier is evidently “very serious about doubling business in China,” hence the company’s full-force approach.
Built of a China-specific PQ platform, the Skoda Kamiq will launch with an all-new naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol mill, reported to produce 81kW and 150Nm. Power, we imagine, goes to the front wheels through either an automatic with 6- or 7-speeds, or a 6-speed manual transmission.
Despite Skoda’s continued commitment to electrification, the Kamiq will miss out on any form of an electrified powertrain, likely to keep costs low. That, and the use of the PQ platform, is something that sales & marketing boss Alain Favey is very happy about.
“Pricing [the Kamiq] below the Karoq means we can get it to a price range for China that we would not have been able to reach in Europe.” — Alain Favey, Sales & Marketing (China), Skoda
The Kamiq will very soon be joined by the Kodiaq GT SUV-coupe, which is expected to make its debut at the Beijing auto show, which opens its doors tomorrow. With the two launches, Skoda’s SUV offering in China will go from 2 (namely the Kodiaq and Karoq that we’re quite familiar with) to 4. And while the Kamiq will be China-only, there is at least a possibility that the Kodiaq GT will eventually find its way to other markets, but only if production capacity allows for it.
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