SKODA SLAVIA MAKES GLOBAL DEBUT IN INDIA AHEAD OF LAUNCH IN EARLY 2022

Skoda has unveiled the new Slavia sedan, developed as part of the India 2.0 strategy: it will be assembled in India (with a declared level of localization of 95 percent) and sold in other developing countries – which ones are not reported. So far, an option has been presented for the Indian market: in the model lineup of the brand, Skoda Slavia will replace another budget sedan, the Rapid model, and will go to local dealers in the first quarter of 2022.

SKODA SLAVIA

SKODA SLAVIA

Slavia was not designed from scratch: they took the Volkswagen Virtus from four years ago, which is sold in Brazil, as a basis, and developed a design in the modern style of the Czech brand, as a result of which Slavia acquired the features of a new generation Fabia. The model is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform with a semi-independent rear suspension, and in terms of dimensions the four-door exceeds the first generation Octavia: the length is more than 4.54 meters, and the wheelbase is 2.65 meters. The trunk volume is 521 liters.

In the Slavia salon, the features of the current Fabia are also traced – the architecture of the front panel, the same copper accents, round air vents, the same virtual “tidy” and a display-tablet of a multimedia system with a diagonal of up to 10 inches. Also for the top-end Slavia there is a rear-view camera, climate control with a touchscreen control panel, a sunroof and front seat ventilation. Basic versions are equipped with simpler: an analogue instrument panel, air conditioning and a seven-inch screen of the infotainment system.

In India, the model will be offered with two motors to choose from: 1.0 TSI with 115 horsepower and 1.5 TSI, which develops 150 horsepower. In the first case, the engine is paired with a “mechanics” or a six-speed automatic, and in the second – with the same manual transmission or a seven-speed “robot” DSG.

Prices for the model have not yet been announced, but it is known that its main competitors in India will be Honda City and Hyundai Verna.