Skoda Kamiq SUV breaks cover ahead of its Geneva 2019 debut
Skoda Auto has unveiled its newest SUV, the Skoda Kamiq, ahead of its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The Kamiq joins the Skoda SUV line-up as its third model. It is smaller than the Kodiaq and Karoq, and sits below them in the company's line-up.
The Kamiq's front-end styling is quite distinctive. It gets the two-part headlamp cluster, a theme now quite common in SUVs, but with the distinctive progressive indicators previously seen on Audis. The Kamiq's design is typically Skoda. It gets the same simple lines and prominent surfaces that we have seen on the new Scala hatchback. The side profile shows a large angular glass area and the unique sloping roof. A unique touch is the quarter-glass on the wide C-pillar. The rear gets a split tail lamp treatment with the now truncated C signature, another Skoda design staple. There's body-cladding throughout, and what looks like 17-inch alloy wheels.
Dimensionally, the Kamiq is 4,241 mm in length, 1,793 mm in width, and 1,531 mm height. All of this translates into what Skoda claims to be the segment's longest cabin. The SUV has 73mm of kneeroom. The design of the interiors follows the simple but subtlly sylish theme of previous Skoda. The contrasting elements bring more excitement here. The Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster makes its way here as does a 9.2 inch infotainment screen. Further, all the unique touches which make the Kodiaq so functional, like the door-sill protetctors and umbrella holders are also available on the Kamiq. European cars also get heated front and rear seats, steering wheel and windscreen.
All the active safety tech expected of a modern car like active cruise control, parking assist, lane monitoring and so on are available in the Kamiq.
The Kamiq's engine options mimic those of the recently launched Scala hatchback. There will be three petrol options starting with a 95PS 1.0 TSI, a 115PS version of the same motor and going up to a 1.5 TSI with 150PS. The diesel engine will be a 1.6 TDI with 115PS and 250Nm.
The Skoda Kamiq will be the entry-level SUV in the brand's line-up when it launches later this year. This is also a notable car for India, the first car under the Skoda-led India 2.0 plan by Volkswagen will be a heavily localised and reworked version of this car. That car will sit on the MQB A0 IN architecture, which is an optimisation of this car's platform for India.