New Skoda Kamiq SUV: Nissan Juke rival spied testing

Czech firm's smallest SUV has been captured testing on public roads ahead of its Geneva motor show launch
James Attwood, digital editor
8 February 2019

The new Skoda Kamiq small SUV has been spied testing ahead of its unveiling at this year's Geneva motor show.

The Nissan Juke rival was photographed sporting minimal disguise, confirming that it will feature styling cues that put it closely in line with its larger siblings, the Karoq and Kodiaq. The shots also show that the Kamiq closely follows the design established by the Vision X SUV concept that Skoda displayed at last year's Geneva show.

The Czech firm recently released an official interior image, showing that the Kamiq takes on Skoda's evolved interior design first revealed in the Scala hatchback. It has previously teased the car with sketches of its exterior styling.

While many interior elements are familiar, the infotainment display – up to 9.2in across on top models – is positioned higher up to better place it in the driver's field of vision. More soft-touch materials and colour options are also said to feature.

Earlier this year, Skoda confirmed that the model would be called the Kamiq. The name was taken from an Inuit word meaning "something that fits as perfectly as a second skin in every situation", according to Skoda. That fits in with the convention first established by the Kodiaq, which was named after the Alaskan Kodiak bear.

Skoda already sells an SUV called the Kamiq in China, but that car is based on a localised platform shared with the Chinese version of the Rapid saloon and isn't technically related to the new Kamiq.

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Based on the same version of the Volkswagen Group MQB platform as the Seat Arona and Volkswagen T-Roc, the Kamiq will be the third and smallest model in Skoda’s SUV line. It's tipped to have a longer wheelbase than both the Arona and T-Roc, potentially offering greater interior space.

Under the skin of the Skoda Vision X concept

The Skoda Vision X concept that was shown at Geneva in 2018 and previews the Kamiq features an innovative compressed natural gas (CNG) powertrain designed to bring focus to the way increasingly tightening regulations on CO2 emissions in the European Union are set. CO2 emissions of a car are currently determined purely by its exhaust output; this doesn’t take into account ‘well to wheel’ calculations of CO2 created during the production of energy. 

The CNG hybrid system in the Vision X features a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine that runs on CNG and drives the front axle with 129bhp and 184lb ft of torque. The engine is supported by two electric motors: a belt-driven starter-generator that also powers the front axle, with a second 27bhp electric motor on the rear axle. That motor offers 52lb ft of torque from standstill, although the use of a gearbox allows it to bring 737lb ft to the road.

The system is front-wheel drive as standard and offers four-wheel drive when needed, using the rear electric motor for acceleration or traction. It is also capable of running for around 2km in electric-only rear-wheel drive. The powertrain has a 0-62mph time of 9.3sec, with a top speed of 125mph and a claimed CO2 output of 89g/km.

The CNG is housed in two tanks, one under the rear seat and one behind the rear axle. The electric motor is powered by a 48V, 1.5kWh lithium ion battery – recharged under braking – that Skoda says was chosen to balance extra weight and energy storage.

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There is also a reserve petrol tank, largely to ensure the powertrain will start in very cold weather, that gives the concept a total range of around 400 miles.

The system has already been tested in a converted Karoq. Martin Hrdlicka, Skoda’s head of powertrains, said the decision to use the CNG hybrid system on the Vision X was, in part, to showcase a way to effectively bring four-wheel drive to smaller vehicles. “Four-wheel-drive machines make up 10% of Skoda sales. There’s no 4WD in the entry-level A segment, so this can help us offer a car of that size with four-wheel drive.

“It would also suit a car the size of the Karoq. You lose a little boot space, but we put the bottles and the battery in the space provided for the spare wheel, so it’s only a small reduction.”

The Kamiq is unlikely to be offered with the compressed CNG powertrain, at least initially.

Skoda Vision X design

While officially a design study for an 'urban' compact crossover, the exterior of the Vision X gives heavy hints at what the production Kamiq will look like. The front of the car – in particular the grille (although on the Vision X it is made from a single piece of glass) and ‘power dome’ on the bonnet – echoes the Karoq and Kodiaq.

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But there are some design features new to Skoda. The lights have been raised, with thin daytime running lights and indicators above the main headlights. At the rear, the Vision X features L-shaped tail-lights that line up with a similarly shaped bumper reflector.

Notably, the rear bootlid of the concept doesn’t feature a Skoda logo, with the brand name spelt out instead. That has set a new style for the brand that has been followed by the Scala and Kamiq.

While based on the same platform as the T-Roc and Arona, at 4250mm the Vision X is longer than both (the T-Roc is 4234mm long, the Arona 4138mm). It is also lower than those cars at 1500mm high, while it sits between the 1780mm Arona and 1819 T-Roc at 1800mm wide. The Vision X also has a substantially longer wheelbase of 2645mm, compared with 2590mm in the T-Roc and 2566mm in the Arona. 

The interior of the Vision X features elements that can be seen in the interior of the Scala and Kamiq. The wide dashboard contains a large, centrally located touchscreen that sits above a small ‘wing’ designed for resting a hand on while using the screen.

There are also some design concepts that are unlikely to be seen on production models, including a 2+2 seating layout and the inclusion in the boot of long boards (and a drone) – Skoda’s concept of a ‘last-mile mobility’ solution to aid urban commuters.

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Comments
28

LP in Brighton

28 February 2018

We should be encouraging the use of CNG as a fuel, which solves problems of emissions, range, cost at a stroke. I don't know why their use isn't more widespread in this country. It's probably down to lack of infrastructure and widespread distrust of the government not to mess around with the current low rate of tax

LJames

8 February 2019

Note the headlights are on the front of the car. Great idea.

Jameson

xxxx

28 February 2018

Just kidding, so complicated and over engineered we'll never have to worry about it after today.

typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion

superstevie

5 March 2018

Complex hybrid aside, this is a neat looking small SUV. 

Dear Autocar website designers,

I understand your need to bring revenue in with advertising. However, can you do it in a way that makes your site usable please?

Thanks

Thekrankis

5 March 2018

Too much VAG style clone.

 

Bring back Skoda uniqueness.

Steam cars are due a revival.

The Apprentice

5 March 2018

Using an extra electric motor at the rear for 4wd is nothing new, the last Peugeot 3008 hybrid had it but they dropped it from the new one as no one truly needed it in an urban crossover. Same system used on the RAV4 hybrid and several others. I personally think its a good idea, for a reasonably modest weight increase and only cables heading rearward instead of a heavy drive shaft you gain the traction of 4wd. Not so interested in it running on cigarette lighter fuel though, I suppose it could be handy if you run out, pop in the nearest newsagent and get a cannister.

xxxx

16 January 2019

2 CNG tanks, a petrol tank, 2 batteries, electric motor, 1.5 ICE and Gearbox in a small'ish car.  Can't wait till I see the price and interior layout.

Oh and no room for a spare

typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion

Peter Cavellini

16 January 2019

  Isn’t this just Seat putting their badge on VW’s T-Roc.....?

Peter Cavellini.

Daniel Joseph

16 January 2019
Peter Cavellini wrote:

  Isn’t this just Seat putting their badge on VW’s T-Roc.....?

Er...it's a Skoda

Peter Cavellini

16 January 2019
Daniel Joseph wrote:

Peter Cavellini wrote:

  Isn’t this just Seat putting their badge on VW’s T-Roc.....?

Er...it's a Skoda

ok,wrong makers but, essentially the same Car.....

Peter Cavellini.

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