8 New Volkswagen And Skoda Cars Launching Soon
As part of its renewed strategy, Skoda Volkswagen India plans to actively expand its portfolio in the country. Four more launches are to be expected this year. These include both facelifts of existing models and all-new products.
Upcoming Skoda Cars In India
Skoda Octavia RS
Skoda showcased the new Octavia RS at the Bharat Mobility Expo this year. The performance sedan is now being spotted on test frequently, hinting at an imminent market debut. Though not confirmed officially by the brand, we expect the Octavia RS to be out in July.
The new Octavia RS will have a sporty design. Key highlights will include glossy black inserts, matrix LED headlamps, large aerodynamic wheels, wraparound LED tail lights, Skoda lettering on the boot lid, dual exhausts, and red brake callipers at the front.
Inside, the sedan will have sports seats at the front and an all-Black theme with Red stitching and inserts. There will be a large 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system, all-digital instrument cluster, three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, toggle-based gear selector, and wireless charging on offer as well.
The Octavia RS will house a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, TSI turbocharged petrol engine under its hood, mated to a seven-speed DSG (DQ381) automatic transmission. This setup will make 261bhp and 370Nm of torque. These are, in fact, the same engine and gearbox offered on the Volkswagen Golf GTI!
Slavia Facelift
Developed as part of the India 2.0 program, the Slavia is quite popular among sedan buyers. It is due for an update which we expect to launch in September this year. The facelifted Slavia was initially expected to go on sale in May but was delayed later.
The new sedan will likely come with redesigned front bumpers, a refreshed grille, new headlamps, a new tail lamp cluster and a few other styling changes. Inside, the feature list will be revisited. The facelift could get a 360-degree camera, Level 2 ADAS and more.
The new sedan will likely stay clear of any mechanical changes. It will continue to be powered by the familiar 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI turbocharged petrol engines. The former produces 113 PS and 178 Nm on the outgoing model while the latter makes 147 PS and 250 Nm of torque. These are likely to remain the same on the facelift as well.
Skoda Octavia Diesel
Rumoured to be out by September this year, is the much-awaited (new) Octavia diesel. The carmaker had previously showcased this model at the Bharat Mobility Expo. It will be brought as a CBU import. Under its hood will be a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder diesel engine mated to a 7-speed DSG- a setup that would produce 148 bhp and 360 Nm of torque.
Kushaq Facelift
The Kushaq is expected to get a facelift before the Slavia does. The new SUV will have major restyling gone into it. Recent spy shots hint at it getting a refreshed front grille with slimmer slats, new headlamps, lower-set fog lamps and possibly connected DRLs as well. The design of the front air dam could also be tweaked.
The alloy wheels are likely to come finished in Black and the tail lamps could be connected by a full-width LED strip. The rear bumper is also expected to receive mild tweaks.
Inside, the new Kushaq could get more premium trims and colours. It will see the addition of a Level 2 ADAS suite- something that's becoming common in the segment.
The powertrains are likely to remain unchanged on the new model. Much like the Slavia, the Kushaq offers two engine choices- 1.0L TSI and 1.5L TSI. We expect the facelifted Kushaq to launch in the second half of 2025, before the new Slavia.
Bonus: Cheaper Variant Of Kylaq And The Kylaq CNG
In addition to these, Skoda will also launch more variants of the recently launched Kylaq. One of these would be a more affordable variant that would sit between the Classic and Signature trims when launched. We expect this to be out by end of this year. Furthermore, the carmaker is also developing a CNG version of the Kylaq. Both will help in widening the Kylaq's appeal further.
Upcoming Volkswagen Cars In India
Volkswagen India is also known to be readying their own iterations of the above facelifts. The Taigun and the Virtus will get facelifts soon.
Taigun Facelift
Source: Carwale
Just like the Kushaq, the Volkswagen Taigun will also get minor updates on its facelift, which is expected to be out in late 2025. In addition to minor restyling, the new model will come equipped with features like ADAS Level 2, and a panoramic sunroof. The powertrain options are likely to remain the same as the outgoing model.
Virtus Facelift
The facelifted Virtus will be an important launch for Volkswagen India. Expected in late 2025, it will come with new LED headlights and taillights. Inside, the new sedan will get more features like Level 2 ADAS and a panoramic sunroof along with new colours and better upholstery. On the powertrain front, no major changes are to be expected. The current 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI will continue along with the same set of transmissions offered on the outgoing model.