[84.monsoon]

Originally Posted by Octy17

I don't know if this is the appropriate thread to post this.
I just noticed Skoda India webpage has been updated with the New Rapid and Karoq.

Link - http://www.skoda-auto.co.in/

Looks to me like yet another mild facelift. Notice the terminology of “New” Rapid versus “All New” Karoq. The front fender has been tweaked and there are a few more creases around the rear wheel arch. The interior looks just the same, but for plastic color changes.

The fundamental problem is the narrow and short appearance of the car relative to its length. This is a result of stretching out the old polo into a sedan. While you can add length, can’t really add width or height.

[volkman10]

Skoda 'KLIQ' Name Trademarked; Could Be For Sub-4M SUV ? Will not come earlier than 2022.


Skoda Kliq could be a compact SUV positioned against Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon and Ford EcoSport.

Expect a similar strategy from VW too.


Link

[Octy17]

Skoda India's lineup has been reduced to just 4 models now in the main homepage.
The Rapid , Monte Carlo , Octavia , Kodiaq and Kodiaq Scout have been removed.

Link - http://www.skoda-auto.co.in/

[sachin_cs]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Was looking at the New Rapid page and noticed the dashboard looks much darker, plusher and higher quality than what I remember.
Have they changed the colour or the quality level? Or is it quality photography?

I think that this dashboard colour/material was brought with the recent facelift when the car was equipped with DRLs (I don't remember the exact year). From my personal experience, this dark dashboard does create a whole lot of difference in terms of plastic feel & look.

Originally Posted by Octy17

Skoda India's lineup has been reduced to just 4 models now in the main homepage.

Does anyone have idea about the gearbox on the new Superb? I'm really excited about the 2.0 TSi and I hope it doesn't come paired with DQ200 as I already have one in the form of Rapid DSG. There's no problem as such but just to be on the safer side, it will always be good to have a wet clutch transmission in my garage.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by sachin_cs

Does anyone have idea about the gearbox on the new Superb? I'm really excited about the 2.0 TSi and I hope it doesn't come paired with DQ200 as I already have one in the form of Rapid DSG.

The 2.0 TSI is mated to the 7 speed wet clutch DQ380 (for 2WD) & DQ381 (for AWD).

[volkman10]

Skoda evaluating mass market EV for India.

Company boss Zac Hollis counts having a mass-market EV as a long term objective

Localisation will be key to introducing the model

Hybrids not an option owing to high costs and lack of government incentives

Link

[wheelguy]

Skoda's sub-4 meter SUV to be launched in India is not a part of India 2.0 project but of India 3.0 project. - Link

Our intention is to offer a small model in the category up to four meters, but we will start doing it only after we have successfully completed the India 2.0 project.

We reckon the India 3.0 project will also be led by Skoda and that the first model coming out of this program will be the Skoda sub-4 metre SUV. This model could be launched sometime in late-2022 or early 2023. A mechanical cousin from the Volkswagen brand could follow a few months later. The third phase will also include the evaluation of alternative powertrain technologies for our market. We’ll talk about that in another detailed report.

[volkman10]

As all is known of the ŠKODA's 2.0 project for India, now it embarks on the next 3.0 plan- Rules out the hatchback segment?

- First will be the sub 4m CUV, will also have an VW counterpart to this - Early 2023

- ŠKODA Hybrid or EV (48V mild-hybrid system ?)

Link

[volkman10]

As Skoda's boss Bernhard Maier is set to leaves the firm, what will happen to the thrust of the projects led by Skoda in ŠKODA Auto Volkswagen India Pvt group?


Bernhard Maier was very passionate about the ŠKODA's 2.0 project in India.

Link (Bernhard Maier is Skoda’s new CEO)

[Anjadekar]

As someone who far prefers the understated elegance and sophistication of VW's design language as opposed to that of Skoda, which I find gaudy, and Audi, which is too flashy for my taste, I am concerned by this development. Hopefully the VW cars that originate from this project will continue to remain true to their German heritage.

The sub-4 meter rule is a perfect example of ham-fisted regulation and bureaucratic excess run amok. As explained in this excellent thread, not only has the policy failed to achieve its objectives, it has also led to the development of hideous cars and kept some great international models, such as the latest generation Polo, at bay.

[volkman10]

ŠKODA AUTO achieves operating profit of 228 million euros in first half of 2020 despite COVID-19 pandemic.





Source: ŠKODA

[volkman10]

Caroline Liehr:

At the age of 32, the German Colour & Trim specialist will run the ŠKODA design studio in India. She has been working for the Czech carmaker’s design department since 2018. Prior to that, she gained experience working for Volkswagen and other car companies. At ŠKODA, her work on Indian projects began partly by chance, but also because she spent two months in India on a study placement.

Hear her comments on the Vision IN:

it’s not that the local customers’ taste is so dramatically different, but rather the conditions on the Indian market are different from what we know. But yes, Indian customers are a bit bolder

Orange is a very important and attractive colour for India, and explains that the orange colour plays a big role in the Indian spiritual life.
Famous Hindu god Krishna is usually depicted in orange clothes and also Buddhist monks or holy men in general are dressed in orange clothes. Orange is known to be the colour of the highest enlightenment of the mind

Another colour fun fact: black cars are not nearly as popular as they are in Europe. Indian people prefer the white exterior colour, incidentally the best selling car colour, and not only because of the hot climate. “Black stands for the absence of light and for death, just like in Europe – yet the traditional mourning colour in India is white,” says the designer.

We have local suppliers for practically all the materials we’ve developed and want to use in the car

is satisfied that all suppliers have met high quality standards. “We want to be as efficient as possible, so being close to them is a huge advantage. In this way we can work more closely with suppliers to find clever solutions,

the design studio will continue to work closely with ŠKODA units at home in the Czech Republic. “In India, I am basically the connecting link and representative of the European parent company’s design department

The air-conditioning in Indian cars is very important

The air-conditioning outlets are an important subject – they have to look strong and functional,” says Caroline, adding that cars’ air-conditioning units run pretty much at full power all the time in the Indian heat. “For me, it’s too cold in the car. I turn the air-con off, but Indians like it that way,” designer laughs.

Another specific point is the use of leather. You would have thought that leather would be forbidden on the local market, given that cows are sacred. But that’s not the case. “The leather must not come from Indian cows. But here too, leather is seen as a luxury item and customers like it,” the designer explains a surprising detail in the high segment cars.

Indian customers are clearly a bit bolder with respect to design than their European counterparts, but the fundamental qualities, from practicality and safety to the perception of luxury, remain the same. Consequently, the work of the Indian design studio could also benefit ŠKODA in its home environment. Notably, the VISION IN study also aroused a lot of attention on markets it’s not intended for.

The reaction told us that European customers can also be a bit bolder and might buy a more colourful car with patterns in the interior, a kind of more exotic version,” the colourfully dressed designer says. “When my mission in India is over, I will bring what I’ve learned back to Europe and try to apply it in practice

In future, I’d also like to focus on greater use of recycled materials which is also becoming more popular in India,”

Source: ŠKODA

[Thad E Ginathom]

Meanwhile, an Indian (-origin) graphic-design guy who I knew in London twenty years ago had made a major design contribution to the new-to-BMW Mini interior.

If VAG wants to design for the Indian market, why can't they use Indian skills? Do they honestly believe they can pick up and implement Indian culture, stuff like colour preference, from a consumer questionnaire? That's the impression I got.

[volkman10]

India lacks in ease of doing business: ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited





Link (Volkswagen India: The Way Forward)

[Anjadekar]

Kudos to Mr Boparai for speaking truth to power. It takes courage to make a statement like this on record in an environment where people, especially those from the business community, are so pusillanimous and reflexively bend over backwards to not offend/suck up to the government. I hope he will not have to face any repercussions for stating the obvious.