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.
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.
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Pictures are not flattering in any way
reminds me of a bloated Favorit from the back... no thanks!!
Boring and Predictable
Like the vast majority of mainstream cars these days, the styling and specification is so utterly predictable and so utterly boring. Once the Chinese manufacturers show they can produce functional, reliable cars at prices less than Skoda can, what's the future for the Czech brand? It's now got no USP at all, other than slightly cheaper versions of VW group products with extremely dull styling. The novelty of Skoda products being surprisingly good and the "clever" way of buying a VW product has gone, and so has any original thinking.
Juke rival
How so, James Attwood?