Domestic News

SKODA AUTO INDIA launched the new Kushaq at a starting price of Rs 10.50 lakh, and going up to Rs 17.60 lakh (ex-showroom, India), being offered in three variants- Active, Ambition and Style. Skoda Auto is spearheading Volkswagen Group’s India 2.0 project with the Kushaq being the first vehicle to be introduced under it. Based on the Indiaspecific MQB-A0-IN variant of VW Group’s MQB-AO platform, the Kushaq comes with signature grille with chrome surround, LED headlamps with LED DRLs, fog lights with cornering function, silver roof rails, shark fin antenna, LED taillamps, 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and electric sunroof. The cabin is loaded with features like a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Skoda Play app, touchscreen AC, two-spoke multifunction steering wheel, ventilated front seats, wireless charger, ambient lighting, autodimming IRVM, a 6.1-litre cooled glove box, and front and rear LED reading lights.

Talking about the dimensions, the midsize SUV is 4,225mm in length, 1,760mm in width, and 1,612mm in height. It has a 2,651mm long wheelbase and 188mm high ground clearance. The boot can hold 385litres of luggage. Safety features includes six airbags, multi-collision brake, hill-hold control, tyre pressure monitoring system, rear-view camera, electronic stability control, and front and rear parking sensors. The Kushaq has two locally manufactured TSI engine options. There is a 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre, TSI petrol motor that develops 115bhp of maximum power and 175Nm of peak torque, mated either to a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed AT torque converter, and a 4-cylinder, 1.5litre, TSI petrol mill that churns out 150bhp of maximum power and 250Nm of peak torque. This unit can be paired either with a 6-speed MT or a 7-speed DSG automatic.