Skoda reveals third SUV: the China-only Kamiq

A day before the official opening of Auto China, also known as the Beijing Motor Show, Skoda takes the covers off its baby SUV. Called Kamiq, it is the size of a VW T-Roc, but it rides on a different platform. Unlike its cousins from Wolfsburg and Martorell, this Kamiq will be built in China and seems destined to stay there.

The Czech brand hasn’t released technical specifications yet, but the baby crossover is expected to feature a 1.5-liter petrol engine and ride on the PQ platform tailored to Skoda’s Chinese models. The urban SUV will be launched onto the market only a couple of months after the motor show, the press release states.

Not for Europe

Those who are waiting for a sub-Karoq cross-over for the European market need not be worried: the Vision X concept that Skoda presented in Geneva last month, will be production-ready in about a year’s time. It will be more sophisticated than its Chinese sibling and use VW’s MQB platform.

The Genevan concept was powered by a CNG-petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain, but that is unlikely to be carried over. To get an idea of which engines and transmissions will be available: have a look at the VW T-Roc. The only question remaining is where Skoda will build this new crossover: all of its production sites are running at full capacity.

Picture copyright: Skoda, 2018