Skoda Scala could be launched in India as a high-end premium hatchback

Days ago, Skoda revealed the Scala premium C-Segment hatchback in Tel Aviv, Israel. The car will go on sale in most parts of Europe next year. Bernhard Maier, the CEO of Skoda Auto, has revealed that the Scala is being considered for India, but will take time to arrive here.

Here’s what he said.

We will start with cars that are being developed specifically for India and then look at more models for the Indian market and the new Scala could be one of them

The Skoda Scala is built on the MQB A0 platform, which is a platform that will be used by Skoda and Volkswagen cars designed for developing markets such as India, China and Brazil. In India, the first MQB AO underpinned cars from Skoda will arrive later next year.

The brand plans to launch a compact SUV based on the MQB A0 platform late next year. The compact SUV will take on the Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster. A sedan based on the same platform is expected a year later. So, if at all the Scala makes it to the Indian market, expect it to arrive no earlier than 2021.

The Scala is a large hatchback that is longer than many C-Segment sedans. Effectively, it is a five seat estate/stationwagon in terms of dimensions, at least for a market like India where almost all hatchbacks measure under 4 meters in length.

The Skoda Scala gets a mammoth 2,649 mm wheelbase, which puts it in SUV territory. The large hatchback measures 4,362 mm long, 1,793 mm wide and is 1,471 mm tall. It gets a 467 liter boot, which can be expanded to 1,410 liters once the seat is folded.

As for engines, the Skoda Scala will get a range topping 1.5 liter turbocharged petrol unit with 150 PS and 250 Nm on tap. This engine will be offered with 6 speed manual and 7 speed twin clutch DSG automatic gearbox options that drive the front wheels. A smaller 1.0 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged TSI petrol engine in 95 Bhp state of tune will be the entry-level motor on this car.

As for features, the car has a very impressive list. LED headlamps and tail lamps, 18-inch alloy wheels that fill up the wheel wells, panoramic glass roof, electric hatch lid, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10-speaker sound system with a subwoofer, nine airbags, ABS, ESP, traction control and many more safety features.

So, from the specifications and features, it’s clear that the Skoda Scala is a car that is meant for those who want a luxurious hatchback at a C-Segment sedan price. The car is expected to be a brand builder for the Skoda brand in India, and the automaker is likely to import it through the completely knocked down (CKD) kit route and assemble it locally. This will result in the Skoda Scala costing about Rs. 15 lakhs.

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