Skoda Kylaq To launch On 6 Nov: Everything You Should Know
Skoda recently hosted what they call a ‘covered drive’ for select journalists and influencers from across India, to give them a first taste of the upcoming Kylaq, and collect feedback. The sub-4m compact SUV will make its debut on November 6, 2024. As the launch nears, hype and curiosity are building around the SUV.
Here is everything you need to know about the Kylaq, before you get to see it without camo:
Story Behind The Name
The name Kylaq (pronounced Kai-lak), might sound strange to many. It means ‘Crystal’ in Sanskrit, and also takes inspiration from the mount Kailash. Skoda India conducted a nation-wide campaign wherein people could suggest names for its sub-4m SUV. The criteria was that the name should start with the letter ‘K’ and end in ‘Q’, as is the tradition with modern Skoda SUVs. It was Mohammed Ziyad, a Quran teacher from Kerala who came up with the winning name.
Design And India-Spec Camo
The carmaker has chosen to be secretive about the design of the Kylaq. Skoda is insistent that the final form should be out only at the debut even on November 6th. It has thus taken special care in designing an attractive camouflage that masks all key design cues. The pre-production prototypes had this on, when they were aligned for the ‘covered drive’. This camouflage was designed by Harun Robert aka Rob, the artist who is most noted for his work with the MAD TV show.
So what do we expect in terms of design? The Kylaq’s design will feature cues from the Czech giant’s newest ‘Modern Solid’ design philosophy. What this means is that we might get to see the influence of the recently launched Elroq in it. The vehicle will have cleaner surfaces and have a modern stance. It will have a ground clearance of 189 mm. The other notable change would be the design of headlamps and tail lights. The headlamps will have a split design, with the DRLs sitting a notch above the projector LED headlamps. The tail lamps will also feature a fresh design, when compared to those on the Kushaq.
Dimensions
The overall length of the Kylaq will be 3,995 mm. As you can see, this tucks in neatly below the 4m mark. This also happens to be the same length as the Nexon and Brezza. The XUV 3XO however, spans 5mm less in the overall length. The wheelbase of Kylaq is a good 2,566mm- much of the expanse sits between the wheels. The 3XO has a slightly longer wheelbase of 2600 mm. Both the Nexon and Brezza stand lower with their respective wheelbases, giving this upcoming Skoda a clear upper hand.
Interior
Skoda says the cabin will prioritize comfort and practicality. Expect ample tech and equipment levels in the production guise. Features like first-in-class six-way adjustable driver and passenger seats with ventilation are on the cards. Quick laps on the track indicate the overall ride experience to be similar to that of the Kushaq- in a good way.
Specifications
This is the third Skoda to be based on the India-specific MQB A0 IN platform. This chassis has already proved its strength by scoring five stars in GNCAP crash tests. It is also known for providing a balanced ride and handling along with lowered costs of ownership and quick lead times. This highly flexible, modular and versatile platform is the first to be manufactured outside of Europe and specifically for India.
The Kylaq will draw its juice from the 1.0L TSI petrol engine which also powers the lower variants of the Kushaq. It will generate 115hp and 178 Nm on the upcoming SUV. Both a 6-speed manual and automatic gearboxes will be available.
Performance And Handling
From the quick track drive, the pre-production prototype seems to be well-mannered and balanced on performance grounds. You wouldn’t be surprised to find the way it drives to be similar to that of the Kushaq to some extent.
Safety
This SUV will come equipped with 25 active and passive safety features. These include six airbags, traction and stability control, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Disc Wiping, Roll Over Protection, Motor Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Passenger airbag deactivation, Multi Collision Braking, and ISOFIX child seat anchors, among others. The crashworthiness is expected to be similar to the Skoda Kushaq, as it uses hot-formed steel in the front crash module for enhanced protection.
Tested From Earth To Moon And Back
Skoda says they’ve tested the Kylaq “to the moon and back”—but don’t worry, NASA wasn’t involved! The prototypes have racked up 800,000 km across various Indian roads, terrains, and traffic conditions. This distance is more than the Earth-to-Moon-and-back distance. The SUV has also undergone tests in extreme temperatures- from -10°C to +85°C.
Segment, Expected Price And Rivals
Being a sub-4m SUV, the Kylaq is set to hit a highly competitive segment- one that constitutes 30% of the net car sales in India. The space is dominated by Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet etc.
Finding a sweet spot there would depend on how smart Skoda gets with the pricing and value offered. The brand director had previously disclosed Skoda’s ambitious plans with the Kylaq. The SUV will likely have its price in the 8-12 lakh range, and the manufacturer plans to sell 100,000 units in the first year.