Skoda Auto India has outlined plans to expand its product portfolio with the launch of the Kodiaq RS, the evaluation of the all-electric Peaq SUV for the domestic market, and the introduction of a Sportline variant of the Kylaq compact SUV.

The developments come as the company expands its presence in India following strong sales growth. Skoda Auto India recorded year-on-year sales growth of 107% in 2025 and is now present in 185 cities through more than 335 customer touchpoints. Globally, brand remains part of the Volkswagen Group's Brand Group Core.

Company has confirmed the launch of the Kodiaq RS, a seven-seat SUV that will enter India's luxury SUV segment. Bookings will open on June 22nd, 2026, ahead of its market launch in the coming weeks.

The RS (Rally Sport) badge has been used by Skoda globally for more than 50 years to identify higher-performance models. The Kodiaq RS will be the first SUV in India and the first seven-seater in the country to carry the designation.

Speaking about the decision, Ashish Gupta, Brand Director of Skoda Auto India, said: "This is the 125th year of Skoda motorsports, and it is also the 50th year of the RS badge, what we call 'Rally Sport'. We were thinking what could be better or above the Kodiaq. The RS badge has a lot of following in India, so we decided to bring the RS on the Kodiaq here in India."

Gupta noted that the RS nameplate has been present in India since the Octavia RS was introduced more than two decades ago. He added that the latest Octavia RS, launched last year, sold out within 20 minutes.

Limited allocation for India

The Kodiaq RS will be imported as a completely built-up (CBU).

Explaining the allocation, Gupta said: "The Kodiaq RS is a hot seller globally, so getting an allocation of a hot-selling car for India is a little difficult. Moreover, because of the taxation and several other policies that are in place right now, it sometimes becomes difficult for us to get volumes in the country."

Company may consider importing additional units if allocations become available and demand supports them.

"I do have an option to bring more cars into the country at a later stage," Gupta said.

Performance and specifications

The Kodiaq RS is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 269 PS and 400 Nm, representing increases of 61 PS and 80 Nm over the standard Kodiaq. The engine is tuned similarly to those used in the Octavia RS and Volkswagen Golf GTI.

According to Gupta, the Kodiaq RS will become the quickest model sold in India. "It will be fastest Skoda ever in India. It is faster than even the Octavia RS," he said.

The SUV features a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, slotted brake discs and two-piston front brake calipers. It remains unclear whether adaptive suspension, available in certain international markets, will be offered in India.

Exterior revisions include redesigned front and rear bumpers, black exterior accents, 20-inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers. Inside, the SUV features an all-black cabin with red stitching and bucket seats carrying RS branding on the integrated headrests. As a full import, the Kodiaq RS is expected to be priced between Rs. 5 million and Rs. 5.5 million (US$ 52,410-57,660), compared with Rs. 3.7 million to Rs. 4.7 million for the standard Kodiaq range.

Peaq EV under evaluation for India

Alongside its internal-combustion portfolio, Skoda Auto India is evaluating the introduction of the Peaq electric SUV. Scheduled to make its global debut on June 23rd, 2026, the Peaq will become the largest vehicle in international line-up and will adopt the company's Modern Solid design language.

When asked about the possibility of introducing the Peaq in India, Gupta said: "Yes, it's on my radar. We have to look at the specifications of the car, and we need to bring in a premium car, not a bare-bones car at a high price. So that is what we are working on. My ambition is to have our global portfolio in India next year."

Gupta confirmed that the company is evaluating the vehicle's specifications as part of efforts to align India's product range more closely with global portfolio.

Long-term localisation plans

While imported EVs are being considered as interim products, brand maintains that meaningful participation in India's EV market will require local manufacturing.

"At the end of the day, if you want to be a significant EV player, it has to be a local play, and that is what we are working on," Gupta said.

He further added that the company continues to develop a localised and cost-efficient EV platform, although development timelines cannot be accelerated because of engineering, validation and supply-chain localisation requirements.

"As I shared last year, we are working on it (local EV). That plan cannot be suddenly preponed and brought in earlier because there are several steps, including supply chains that need to be taken care of," he said.

A fully localised EV therefore remains several years away.

Powertrain and technical details

The international-specification Peaq will be available in 60, 90 and 90x variants, using 63 kWh and 91 kWh lithium-ion nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery packs. The 90x features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain producing 303 PS, while the other variants use a single rear-mounted electric motor producing up to 290 PS.

Depending on the version, the Peaq is expected to offer more than 600 km of driving range, a top speed of up to 180 km/h and DC fast-charging capability that can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in approximately 27 to 28 minutes.

Kylaq Sportline arriving in September

Company will expand the Kylaq range with a Sportline variant in September 2026. The Kylaq accounted for nearly 60% of the brand's volume in May 2026 despite a 30% year-on-year decline. The model is currently available exclusively with a 999 cc three-cylinder 1.0 TSI turbo-petrol engine producing 117 PS.

Discussing the upcoming variant, Gupta said: "Skoda is doing something with styling elements to give the Kylaq a sporty touch, which will be with the Sportline version coming in September."

The Sportline is being introduced in response to customer demand and is expected to follow the approach used on the Slavia and Kushaq Sportline. It is likely to be positioned below the Prestige variant, while pricing is expected to remain within the current range of Rs. 759,000 to Rs. 1.3 million.

Expected design and equipment updates

The Sportline is expected to feature black badging, black-finished outside rear-view mirrors, black door handles, a black roof treatment and black-finished faux skid plates on the front and rear bumpers.

Inside, it is expected to receive an all-black interior theme and aluminium pedals. No mechanical changes are anticipated. The Sportline will continue with the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 117 PS and 178 Nm, paired with manual and automatic transmissions. While the Kushaq received an updated 1.0 TSI engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission during its March 2026 facelift, the Kylaq has not yet received a similar update.

1.5-litre Kylaq remains under consideration

Brand is also evaluating a Kylaq variant powered by a larger engine, although no final decision has been made. According to Gupta, customer interest in a 1.5-litre TSI-powered Kylaq has been noted, but the project remains at a research stage while the company evaluates commercial viability and investment requirements.

A 1.5-litre engine would likely be required for a higher-performance derivative. However, such a powertrain would move the model beyond the tax benefits available to sub-four-metre vehicles in India. For reference, 1.5 TSI engine used in European models such as the Fabia, Scala and Kamiq produces approximately 152 PS, while the latest evo2 version available in selected Fabia variants develops up to 177 PS.

The pricing gap between those European models and the Indian-market Kylaq remains substantial. The Fabia starts at just over GBP 21,000 (US$ 28,165), while the Kylaq starts at Rs. 759,000. Consequently, adopting a larger engine would likely affect the cost structure and market positioning that currently underpin the model's competitiveness in India.