2020 Skoda Kamiq (Hyundai Creta Rival): 5 things to know

• The production-spec version of the 2018 Vision X concept has been christened the 'Kamiq'.
• Skoda’s 2020 India-spec compact SUV (Hyundai Creta Rival) will borrow the Kamiq’s styling and name, in all likelihood.
• The India-spec compact Skoda SUV will be debuted at the 2020 Auto Expo.

Skoda is all geared up to introduce the smallest member in its SUV lineup next month, globally. Christened the Kamiq, it follows Skoda’s typical SUV nomenclature fashion: beginning with “K” and ending in “Q”. The Skoda Kamiq sits below the India-bound Karoq and the full-size Skoda SUV Kodiaq. And here are five things that you need to know about the Czech automaker’s smallest SUV yet.

1. World premiere at 2019 Geneva Motor Show, India showcase at Auto Expo 2020

Since its recent announcement of debuting the Kamiq at the Swiss auto show, Skoda has dropped a couple of teasers of the compact SUV. We expect Skoda to fully reveal the SUV on the Internet ahead of its public debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show (March 7-17, 2019). The Kamiq is the production-spec model of the Skoda Vision X compact SUV concept, which also made its world debut at the same venue in 2018. Skoda’s upcoming compact SUV for India is likely to be inspired by the Kamiq and will be showcased here next year at the Auto Expo 2020.

2. Kamiq for the world, Kamiq for India?

The Skoda Kamiq will be based on the MQB A0 platform, which is in the process of being localised in India as a part of Volkswagen Group’s India 2.0 business plan. The first product under this new business plan will be a Skoda SUV, followed by its Volkswagen sibling. While VW has confirmed the T-Cross for India, Skoda is yet to confirm the name of the SUV. That said, Skoda recently released a teaser of the India-spec SUV suggesting its 2020 India Auto Expo debut. The SUV in the teaser looks similar to the Vision X concept, on which the Kamiq is based. So, there’s a high probability that the India-spec Skoda SUV will be called Kamiq only.

3. Will get locally manufactured 1.0-litre turbo petrol

The India-spec Skoda Kamiq will be powered by the 1.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine, like it is globally. Along with the MQB A0, Volkswagen Group will also localise the 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine in India by 2020. It will replace the current 1.2-litre TSI turbo and the 1.6-litre MPI petrol engines. In fact, the 999cc turbocharged petrol engine will power all of Volkswagen Group’s MQB A0 IN-based (IN = India-spec) cars starting from 2020. This 3-cyl unit is a direct injected, forced induction derivative of the 1.0-litre MPI naturally aspirated petrol engine, which currently powers the Polo and the Ameo. The 1.0-litre TSI is available in the following states of tune:

4. Likely to get a CNG option

The upcoming compact Skoda SUV will get a petrol engine, but whether it will get a diesel engine or not has still not been confirmed. Moreover, Volkswagen is rumoured to ditch its 1.5-litre TDI engine once BSVI emission norms kick in from April 2020. However, the VW Group recently disclosed that it is planning to offer CNG versions of their cars in India, just like it does in Europe. The CNG-powered version of the 1.0-litre TSI is called the TGI there and is rated at 90PS and 160Nm.

• New-Gen Skoda-VW Cars From 2020 Likely To Get CNG

5. Rivals and pricing

Volkswagen Group promises up to 95 per cent localisation with future cars under the India 2.0 plan. The level of localisation on the current crop of locally manufactured VW Group cars is close to 75 per cent. So, expect competitive pricing for the German automaker’s MQB A0 IN-based cars. The Skoda Kamiq, for instance, could be priced in the range of Rs 10 lakh to 15 lakh (ex-showroom). It will go up against its own sibling, the T-Cross, as well as the Kia SP2i-based SUV, Hyundai Creta, second-gen Renault Duster and the Nissan Kicks.

Disclaimer: This article has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle and is taken from a syndicated feed. Photos: CarDekho.