Entry-level Skoda SUV to debut at 2019 Geneva Motor Show

This concept's production version will debut within a year, at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.

The latest development was confirmed by Skoda's Sales and Marketing chief Alain Favey, reports Automotive News Europe. Skoda has "ambitious sales targets" for this model. However, Mr. Favey expects it to become the company's second-best-selling SUV after the Skoda Karoq, not the top-selling one. The Czech automaker is set to expand the annual production capacity at its Mlada Boleslav plant by 80,000 units. The new small SUV should account for much of this increased capacity.

The production Skoda Vision X will arrive as the first Skoda model underpinned by the MQB A0 platform. The same platform underpins the VW Polo, Seat Ibiza and Seat Arona currently. However, reports say that Skoda will use the longest version of the MQB A0 platform for its small SUV as well as the next-gen Skoda Rapid (EU). The company is expected to offer the new SUV with 1.0L TSI petrol, 1.5L TSI Evo petrol and 1.6L TDI diesel units in varying outputs.

The Volkswagen Group expects to make the final decision of localising a modified version of the MQB A0 platform called MQB A0 IN in India by mid-2018. In the positive case, the production Skoda Vision X will debut this platform in our market, with sales commencing in early 2021.