Skoda has a mission to conquer India for the Volkswagen Group, which believes that the explosion of this market is imminent. the concept Vision IN , unveiled today before the opening of the doors of the New Delhi salon on the 7th of February, thus appears as a Trojan Horse for such an important achievement.
Expected to arrive in the Indian market in mid 2021, when the light of day comes on that subcontinent, the Skoda Vision IN should be available for an amount equivalent to 10 thousand euros.
New market, new attributes
Every time a car brand introduces a new model, there is a concern to enhance its dynamic qualities, with emphasis on the good compromise between stability and comfort, at least in vehicles intended for a very wide range of customers.
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But for a car that wants to make it in the Indian market, these are less important attributes, mainly due to the specificity of the roads or, better said, the paths.
Here, the decisive qualities for success are prestige in appearance, comfort and low production costs, so that it is possible to offer the most competitive price possible to a customer with very low purchasing power.
Small on the outside, big on the inside?
The Vision IN concept, immediately recognizable as a Skoda by its large front grille and sharp optics, offers a glimpse into how Skoda wants to start fulfilling the mission assigned to it by the Volkswagen Group.
Its length of 4.26 meters is the most adapted to the profile of the Indian customer who travels in very compact vehicles, even when large families have to be transported, which leads manufacturers to use their ingenuity and creativity to put “Rossio on the Street da Betesga”, which is to say, managing to fit three rows of benches in so little space.
The Renault Triber, which measures just 3.99 meters, can do it, so there will be no other option for Skoda's series-production model, expected to arrive in early 2021, than offering the same solution.
Economies of scale should allow it, not least because the platform is the well-known MQB-A0 (which is already applied on the Skoda Kamiq, which is just 2 cm shorter), which will be adapted for the local market at the engineering center in Pune , in India.
Technology will not be lacking
The concept on display at Auto Expo 2020 is equipped with a 1.5 TSI engine with 150 hp, associated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and will be the top of the range of the range of engines for the “Indian Kamiq”. To be competitive in terms of price, the Vision IN will be available with three-cylinder engines, with a liter of capacity.
Inside, there is a kind of Maharaja crystal inlaid in the center of the upper face of the board panel, a “jewel” that alludes to the Czech specialty and must also meet the luxury needs of a minority of local consumers.
The 12.3” central touchscreen is relevant for the production version of the crossover because in India the infotainment equipment is highly valued by customers, whatever the segment. Volkswagen provides all its know-how in connectivity, so that this model has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, even assuming that the most basic version does not have configurable digital screens.
How much will it cost?
Skoda's crossover is designed to appeal to the upper-middle class in India, trying to lure customers of rivals like Kia Seltos or Ford EcoSport into paying a little more for the prestige associated with the German group (which will also sell the Volkswagen T in this market). -Roc, which shares the same rolling base).
Therefore, its price should be between 10 thousand and 13 thousand euros. Affordable values for the European reality, but that will pose some challenges in this market where many cars cost less than 7000 euros...