Skoda Auto India has taken the wraps off its much-awaited SUV, the Kylaq, revealing the vehicle for the very first time in India and the world. The Kylaq ushers in the New Era for Skoda Auto in India as it enters new markets and attracts new customers into its fold. The company had ascertained its ambitions to expand further in India with the announcement of this SUV in February this year. In October this year, Skoda Auto India conducted drives of a camouflaged pre-production version of the Kylaq. And a month later, the Kylaq has now made its world premiere, with bookings opening from December 2, 2024.
With the announcement of its intent to introduce a sub 4m SUV in the Indian market, Skoda Auto India also actioned a unique and nation-wide naming campaign where it asked the people of India for names for this car. In effect, the Skoda Kylaq has been named by India. The name From details to story: skoda-storyboard.com For the latest news, follow us on WhatsApp channel, ‘What’s up, Skoda?’ is derived from the Sanskrit term for a crystal and is named after Mount Kailash. The larger Kushaq in Skoda Auto India’s SUV line up also gets its name from the Sanskrit word for an emperor. The Kylaq adds to the company’s roster of SUVs like Kodiaq, the large 4×4, and the mid-sized Kushaq.
The Kylaq features quite a few segment-firsts. Like six-way electric seats with ventilation for the driver and front passenger. A Stowing Space for the parcel tray also constitutes a unique and key feature enhancing the usability and versatility of the boot. The boot in the Kylaq is the best in its segment measuring 446 litres. With the rear seats folded, this space maximises to 1,256 litres. The car also features Auto Climatronic, with ventilation for the electrically adjustable front seats. Select variants are also available with an electric sunroof. Also on offer are cruise control, steering-mounted paddle-shifters with the six-speed automatic gearbox, leatherette seats, wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay and wireless charging among other features. Taking centre stage is a 25.6cms infotainment screen with an even more intuitive user interface. The driver gets a 20.32cms Virtual Cockpit with a renewed interface.
A new interpretation of familiar Skoda lines The exterior of the Kylaq is defined by a distinctive shape and clean lines, making it the first Skoda model in India to adopt the new Modern Solid design language. The new front is characterised by a shiny black grille with 3D ribs, while the hallmark Skoda SUV “four eyes” headlights graphic has been completely reinterpreted. The Kylaq is also the first model in India to feature the all-new Skoda wordmark on the rear. Also new is a bold front lower spoiler in aluminium optics in the front. From details to story: skoda-storyboard.com For the latest news, follow us on WhatsApp channel, ‘What’s up, Skoda?’
Skoda Auto had its biggest year in terms of sales in India in 2022. Combined with the year 2023, the company sold over 100,000 cars in a 2-year period. Earlier, it had taken the company six years to achieve the landmark, highlighting the rapid pace of growth undertaken by the company ever since the MQB-AO-IN platform has been put into action. With Kylaq, Skoda Auto will significantly increase its addressable market share in India, with a target of 100,000 sales annually by 2026.
With the Modern Solid era, the headlights feature slim lines and a minimalist, purposeful design. While the narrow upper segments of the headlights serve as daytime running lights, position lights and indicators, the larger lower modules provide the important low-beam and high-beam functions with crystalline designed LED elements. The sides of the Kylaq are adorned with clean and modern lines. It has a robust cladding around the wheel arches and sills that accentuate the high ground clearance and space around the wheel. This lends the Kylag that SUV character within its compact dimensions. From details to story: skoda-storyboard.com For the latest news, follow us on WhatsApp channel, ‘What’s up, Skoda?’
Adding more value to the design of the Kylaq is a hexagon pattern along the side and rear of the car. The Skoda Kylaq is 3,995mm long, 1,783mm wide, and 1,619mm, with a wheelbase measuring a generous 2,566mm. Most importantly, the Kylaq stands a comfortable 189mm off the ground. These compact, yet elegant proportions are rounded off at the rear with the all-new Skoda wordmark on a wide black stripe flanked by the rear lights. The rear lamps themselves reveal a distinct T-shaped light signature. This is supported by the distinct rear bumper equipped with a 3D diffusor insert in aluminium optics. The Kylaq is available in five paint finishes and making its debut in the Kylaq is the Olive Gold colour. This colour will be exclusive to the Kylaq and is inspired by the rich greens and versatile fauna of Lonavala during the monsoon season.
The Kylaq can accelerate to a 100kph in 10.5 seconds with the manual transmission. The SUV also has a top speed of 188kph. Its 1.0 TSI engine produces 85kW of power and 178Nm of torque. This powerplant is mated to a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque converterautomatic with paddle shifters in select variants. The car is based on the same MQB-AO-IN platform as the Kushaq and Slavia. These two cars have already scored a full 5-stars in Global NCAP tests for adults and children. The Kylaq comes standard with over 25 active and passive safety features, including six airbags, traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Disc Wiping, Roll Over Protection, Motor Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Passenger airbag de-activation, Multi Collision Braking and ISOFIX seats and many others.
The Kylaq has been tested over 800,000kms of Indian terrain including urban, highway, uphill and rough roads. That is more than the distance from Earth to the moon and back. And more than 20 trips around the circumference of Earth. This all-new compact SUV has been put through temperatures varying from -10 to +85 degree Celsius and across elevation ranging from sea level to 3,000 metres above sea level. To ensure thorough monsoon preparedness and perfect sealing from the elements, 100 random samples of the Kylaq have been exposed to 25-30 litre per minute/sq mt. of water at an angle of up to 16 degrees. This ensures the Kylaq has zero water ingress in extreme monsoons. The Kylaq has also been put through a vehicle shaker test to ensure the interiors remain silent and rattle-free on all road surfaces. The car has also spent two years in open weather to test all the polymeric parts to ensure highest quality standards.
The Kylaq undergoes many quality practices in the manufacturing process itself ensuring classleading safety and dynamics. The roof and other joints are laser-blazed, the geometry setting of the Kylaq is robotised, inline measurements of the chassis are done at two locations and Al cameras at the assembly line inspect for variations and inconsistencies on the engine surface. And the use of hot-stamped steel, with a redone crash management system ensures the best possible safety in the Kylaq.
The Kylaq is manufactured at the Chakan plant with 30% (18.5 MW) of power generated through solar energy. The company aims to increase this to 75% by 2026. It is a water-positive facility, giving back more water than it consumes. With over 660,000 trees planted, the plant has earned Zero Waste to Landfill and Zero Liquid Discharge Certifications. The Kylaq itself uses a sustainable bamboo-fibre infused pad with a textile finish creating a speckle effect in the dashboard area.
