Škoda Auto has officially announced that its highly anticipated Kylaq will make its world debut in India on 6 November 2024. The launch of the Kylaq will see Škoda Auto entering a ‘New Era’ in India, which is the most important market for the brand outside Europe.

The Kylaq is powered by the tried-and-true 1.0 TSI engine, which is paired to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The engine generates 85 kW and 178 Nm of torque. The car uses the same MQB-A0-IN platform as the Kushaq and Slavia. These two vehicles have previously received a complete 5-star rating in Global NCAP testing 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 deactivation, Multi Collision Braking and ISOFIX seats, among many others.

The Kylaq has been tested throughout 800,000 kilometres of Indian terrain, including urban, highway, hilly and rugged routes. This all-new compact SUV has been tested in temperatures ranging from -10 to +85 degrees Celsius and at elevations ranging from sea level to 3,000 metres above sea level. To assure complete monsoon readiness and optimum weather resistance, 100 random samples of the Kylaq were subjected to 25-30 litres per minute/square metre of water at an angle of up to 16 degrees. This guarantees that no water enters the Kylaq under heavy monsoon conditions. The Kylaq has also undergone a vehicle shaking test to verify that the interiors stay silent and rattle-free across all road surfaces. To make sure there is no discolouration, distortion or loss of functionality in intense sunlight or other environmental conditions, the Kylaq has also been exposed to open weather for two years.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “I’m proud to present Kylaq – the first compact SUV from Škoda India. Kylaq is designed and made with high levels of localisation, thereby strengthening our ‘Make in India’ commitment. It represents the Group’s DNA of driving dynamic, safety and comfort, along with the practical features desired by our value conscious customers. I’m sure the product will resonate with Indian customers’ mindset. Kylaq, designed and engineered in India, for India, will be a gamechanger.”

Jiří Dytrych, Head of Product Management, Škoda Auto, shared, “It is a moment of great pride for me and our team to see the Kylaq getting closer to making its world debut in India. The MQB-A0-IN was conceived to be a highly flexible, modular and versatile platform. You all know the Kushaq and Slavia to be much larger, above 4-metre cars. Both these cars have been pivotal in the growing focus on having safer cars in India. At the development stage itself, this platform was conceived to also accommodate an under 4-metre car like the Kylaq and has the same spirit of unmatched driving dynamics, leading safety and proven quality. We take safety a notch higher with a best-in-segment hot-formed steel for the front crash module, to ensure best cabin safety. The key features of the car are always space and comfort for the driver and passengers. The Kylaq will offer first-in-class six-way adjustable driver and passenger seats with ventilation function. The Kylaq will lead our presence, in the fastest-growing and most competitive segment in India.”

Jan Bures, Executive Director – Sales, Marketing and Digital, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “The Kylaq is just around the corner from making its debut in the world. It has been developed and even named keeping in mind evolving customer trends and aspirations in India. The under 4m segment makes up nearly 30 percent of the marketshare in the Indian passenger car sector. And the Kylaq, we believe, is adept at tapping this segment. It will also take us to new markets among tier 3 and 4 centres and bring new customers into our fold. With the response to this pre-production version, I will say with comfort and confidence that the Kylaq is on track to make its debut soon and will enable us to achieve further growth and inroads into the Indian market.”

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, shared, “Expanding our portfolio is a key part of our growth strategy, which will enable us to welcome more customers into the Škoda family. We committed to adding a new SUV – Kylaq -- to our offerings, and we are well on track for our biggest-ever launch in India. This is a huge milestone in our India journey and will enable us to double our addressable market share. From the teasers shared, you can tell that this will be a stunning-looking SUV. The Kylaq is now undergoing the final set of testing, and as a result, we cannot reveal the car in all its glory, yet. The Kylaq is the car that will democratise European technology in India. Among other things, it has over 25 active and passive safety features standard across all its variants, and about 30 in specific variants. The Kylaq is almost ready for its debut and will lead the charts when it comes to safety and dynamics.”

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BMW India has released the new BMW X5 at prices starting INR 10.03 million (ex-showroom). The cars are produced at the BMW Group Plant in Chennai and come with petrol and diesel engine options.

The ex-showroom prices for the new variants are as follows:

• BMW X5 xDrive30d: INR 10.23 million
• BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport Pro: 11.5 million
• BMW X5 xDrive40i: INR 10.03 million
• BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport Pro: INR 11.3 million

The new X5 models include a BMW Widescreen Curved Display, which combines a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch control display. The cars also feature Comfort Seats with electric adjustments and lumbar support. Standard equipment includes a Harman Kardon Surround Sound System and a 4-zone automatic climate control system.

Both the petrol and diesel engines are equipped with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The 3-litre 6-cylinder in-line petrol engine of the X5 xDrive40i produces 381 hp and 520 Nm of torque, accelerating from 0 to 100 kmph in 5.4 seconds. The 3-litre 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine of the X5 xDrive30d produces 286 hp and 650 Nm of torque, with a 0-100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds. Both engines also feature a 48V electrical motor.

The xOffroad package is now available for the X5, providing four driving modes: xSand, xRocks, xGravel and xSnow. The package also includes reinforced underbody protection.

Safety systems on the new X5 include Parking Assistant Professional with Surround View Camera, Reversing Assistant and Drive Recorder. The cars are also equipped with airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and an electronic immobiliser.

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Maruti Suzuki True Value (MSTV), India's leading pre-owned car retail network, has attained a new sales milestone of selling over 6 million cars since its launch in 2001, which includes 492,697 vehicles in FY2024–25 alone.

The milestone, the company shared, highlights the channel's sustained growth and its status as a preferred choice for consumers seeking quality pre-owned vehicles.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer of Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, "As we celebrate the 6 million sales milestone, we are deeply grateful to all our valued customers for their trust in True Value cars," he said. "Established over two decades ago, Maruti Suzuki True Value has consistently been a top consideration for a diverse demography of customers as a reliable and safe pre-owned car channel."

Banerjee also noted that MSTV is especially popular with younger buyers, with an average customer age of 31. Eighty-five per cent of True Value customers are first-time car owners. The company's focus on "industry-leading services" is designed to provide customers with "complete peace of mind."

All Maruti Suzuki True Value-certified vehicles undergo a rigorous 376-point quality check and are refurbished with genuine Maruti Suzuki parts. The company stated it verifies each car's service history and documentation before it is offered for sale. To further build customer confidence, certified cars come with a warranty of up to one year and three free services.

At present, the company’s network includes 606 showrooms across 305 cities in India.

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Skoda has released a teaser video offering the first look inside its upcoming Vision O concept car, revealing a new interior design language. The car will be officially unveiled on 8th September in Munich.

The interior showcases the next evolution of the brand’s Modern Solid design philosophy, focusing on a customer-centric and sustainable approach. The design emphasises a spacious layout with clean lines for a harmonious feel.

Oliver Stefani, Head of Skoda Design, said, “The interior design concept of the Vision O showcases our commitment to combining simplicity and sustainability with enhanced comfort. The combination of clean lines and intuitive functionality reflect our efforts to create a harmonious and functional interior. It features materials and design elements that are not only aesthetically an evolution of our Modern Solid design language but also emphasise environmental responsibility.”

The interior features a minimalist, ergonomic design that prioritises practicality and intuitive functionality. It includes unique 3D-printed headrests for a comfortable and airy feel. Following circular economy principles, the materials used throughout the cabin are sustainable, with a focus on plant-based and compostable components to reduce the car’s environmental impact.

The Vision O will be a look at the future of Skoda’s estate segment.

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Renault India has released the new Kiger, an updated version of its sub-four-meter SUV at prices starting INR 629,000 with prices going upto INR 1.12 million (ex-showroom).

The SUV is an evolution of the previous model, features over 35 updates. It was developed to align with the ‘rethink performance’ philosophy.

The new Kiger has a refreshed exterior and an updated interior. It now includes a multi-view camera system, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlamps. The Kiger is also equipped with a 20.32 cm touchscreen and a sound system.

The Kiger is available with two engine options: a 100 PS turbocharged engine and a 72 PS naturally aspirated engine. For safety, the new Kiger offers 21 standard safety features across all versions, including six airbags, ESP and Hill Start Assist.

Venkatram Mamillapalle, MD and CEO, Renault India, said, “We are excited to launch the New Kiger in a segment which is growing fastest and contributes 50% to the SUV sales and 31% to the TIV of the country. Kiger has been a unique product in its segment, and with this latest evolution, we are reaffirming our commitment to making expressive design, intelligent engineering, and real-world performance accessible to Indian customers. This marks a pivotal moment in Renault’s India centric transformation journey renault. rethink.”

Francisco Hidalgo, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Renault India, said, “Renault Kiger has shaped expectations in the compact SUV segment with its aesthetic design, modern details, and bold stance combined with the lightweight CMFA+ platform. The New Kiger remains highly agile and responsive, giving customers the confidence of SUV DNA with the ease of everyday driving on city roads and highways- ticking all that is required for perfect performance.” 

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