Skoda India has announced the ex-showroom price of the Kodiaq RS in India. Available in just a single variant, this performance SUV is priced at Rs 66.99 lakh, ex-showroom. This premium pricing is due to the fact that it is being brought as CBU (Completely Built Units) imports, in limited numbers. The first batch is limited to just 50 units, all of which have already been sold out.
In June, Skoda had taken the booking portal live. Interested buyers could pre-book their RS by paying Rs 3 lakh. Interestingly, the SUV got sold out in under six minutes! This milestone was achieved when the actual price was still under the wrap. The Kodiaq RS’ India-entry happens in a year when Skoda celebrates 125 years of its motorsport heritage and 50 years of the RS badge.
The RS version is Rs 20 lakh more expensive than the range-topping variant of the regular Kodiaq. In India, the Kodiaq is priced in the range of Rs 36.99 lakh-Rs 46.99 lakh. The performance credentials and hardware justify the price premium. The Kodiaq has become the first Skoda SUV to get an RS badge in India, and is also the quickest Skoda on sale here. It has a 0-100kph time of 6.3 seconds.
The RS version has a significantly more aggressive styling than the standard Kodiaq. It looks sportier and sharper. At the front, it gets a redesigned bumper with larger air intakes and functional air curtains. The grille is finished in gloss Black and carries the vRS badge. There is also a full-width light bar connecting Matrix LED headlamps on either side. This gives it the modern Skoda face.
From the side, the most noticeable change is the large 20-inch alloy wheels with Hankook tyres. The brake callipers are painted in a sporty shade of Red. There is increased use of Blacked-out elements and premium touches on the outside. These can be seen on the roof rails, ORVMs, window surrounds and C-pillar garnish.
The rear gets a new bumper, roof-mounted spoiler, and connected LED tail lights with dynamic indicators. Four exterior colours are available.
Inside, the RS version looks significantly sportier than the regular Kodiaq. It gets an all-Black cabin with sports seats with strong bolstering, RS badges, and integrated headrests at the front. The standard SUV has a much more conventional design. Several Red trims and contrast stitching can be seen inside.
There is a long line of features on offer as well- a 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 13-speaker Canton audio, dual wireless chargers, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, rear AC vents, 360-degree camera, level 2 ADAS, 10.25-inch fully digital driver’s display and more
Underpinning the Kodiaq RS is an improved version of Volkswagen Group’s MQB Evo platform. It comes with progressive steering, Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) Plus and other key improvements.
The DCC Plus offers up to 15 selectable damping levels. These allow the driver to fine-tune the ride quality and handling for specific scenarios. Progressive steering makes the vehicle sharper and more predictable around corners. Despite sharing its platform with the standard SUV, the Kodiaq RS feels very different to drive.
Powering It is a heavily upgraded 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine that makes 261 hp and 400 Nm of torque- the same tune as the Octavia RS or the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The standard SUV has just 201hp and 320Nm on offer. The RS thus has 60hp and 80Nm more in comparison.
The engine is mated to a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. There is all wheel drive (AWD) system on offer as well. It uses electro-hydraulically controlled inter-axle multi-plate clutch and a network of sensors to distribute power between the axles. This ensures optimal traction, stability and performance at all times.
0-100 kph takes 6.3 seconds and the vehicle has a top speed of 231kph, Incredible performance credentials indeed.
Skoda has improved its braking hardware to keep pace with the mighty powertrain. The RS gets slotted and ventilated disc brakes with larger two-piston callipers. This setup ensures uncompromised braking performance.
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