Skoda Auto India took the wraps off the much-awaited Kushaq and made its global debut after showcasing its concept version, Vision IN at the 2020 Auto Expo. After a series of teasers, we finally got to see, touch and sit inside the production version of this all-new SUV. The Kushaq has many firsts going for itself like it is Volkswagen Group’s first locally manufactured SUV in India and it is also the first vehicle to be rolled out under Volkswagen Group’s India 2.0 Project. There’s further good news for SUV fans as Skoda will start accepting booking orders for the Kushaq from June with the first batch to be delivered in July.

The German manufacturer also squashed rumours of it planning to exit the Indian market by emphasising that the group is investing one billion euros to strengthen its presence in the Indian subcontinent and aim to achieve a combined market share of five percent by 2025. Thomas Schäfer, Skoda Auto CEO, further confirmed this by saying, “With the world premiere of the Skoda Kushaq, we are launching our model campaign on the Indian market and are fulfilling the mandate Volkswagen Group tasked us with roughly two and a half years ago when we were asked to assume responsibility for the Indian market. I would like to thank Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited and his team for what they have achieved so far. We are now focusing on a smooth market launch and the successful start of our new model while setting the course for the next steps on the Indian subcontinent. I am convinced of the country’s great growth potential. And we will make the most of it for Skoda and Volkswagen.”

Volkswagen Group’s India Project 2.0 focus is on manufacturing vehicles tailor-made for India, but more importantly, giving utmost importance to high-level localisation of parts and sharing key components with other vehicles in the group. The testimony to this is the Kushaq that’s managed to achieve 95 percent localisation level. The other thing the VW Group paid a lot of attention to was creating a platform for India and which fulfils the diverse demands of our market as well as meet the latest, stricter safety and emission requirements.

While targeting high-volume segments, the VW Group has built a new India-spec modular MQB platform, the MQB-A0-IN, based on which two SUVs including the Kushaq and two notchbacks will be launched under both the Skoda and Volkswagen brand. Again, in order to achieve a high level of localisation in India, Skoda has set up a new MQB production line at its Chakan plant near Pune.

One might ask, what’s in a name, but in Skoda’s case, it means quite a lot as it continues to follow its K & Q nomenclature. The name of the new SUV is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Kushak’, which means king or emperor.

Exterior design: The production version of the Kushaq has managed to retain quite a few of its design elements from its concept model. It showcases the typically solid and muscular design language of the Volkswagen family. The big butterfly shaped front grille with vertical slats in chrome finish and split L-shaped LED headlights with crystalline structures make the Kushaq stand out in the crowd. It sports quite a robust road presence thanks to the large air vents below the headlamps, the front bumper with a mesh finish and, of course, the skid plates in the front and rear. If that wasn’t enough to make a statement, the clean prominent lines on the bonnet and running across the shoulder line in the side and multiple creases in the rear give the Kushaq a no-nonsense image. The SUV will be available in three variants – Active, Ambition and Style – with the entry-level sporting 16-inch steel wheels while the mid-range gets 16-inch alloy wheels and top-of-the-range Style will boast two-tone 17-inch ones.

In terms of specifications, the Kushaq is 4,221 mm long, 1,760 mm wide and has a height of 1,612 mm with a ground clearance of 188 mm. Its wheelbase, on the other hand, is 2,651 mm in length, making it longer than mid-size SUV segment leader Hyundai Creta and the popular Kia Seltos. This ensures a spacious cabin for five passengers along with 385 litres of boot space.

Interiors: The Kushaq gets a multi-layered dashboard with black plastic on top then a metal band and finally a brown and a black layer. The centre of attraction is the 10-inch touchscreen and the mid and top variant comes with a touch control panel for climate control. The infotainment system gets internal memory storage, wireless Smartlink, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and My Skoda in-car connectivity app.

The Style trim is also equipped with some clever yet practical features like ventilated leather front seats, keyless entry, an electric sliding glass roof and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Skoda has given a lot of importance to practicality; as a result, the Kushaq comes with numerous storage compartments in the cabin like a glove box, centre console, additional cubby holes to store bottles and other knick-knacks.

The Kushaq gets a brand new two-spoke steering wheel and the automatic versions come with paddle shifters. It also comes with chrome finish scroll controls and buttons for audio, phone and cruise control. What was a bit of a surprise was that it came with an analogue instrument cluster and not a digital one like its cousin, the Volkswagen Taigun.

All this sounds great, but how comfortable is the cabin? Well, with big supportive seats and decent under-thigh support, both the front and the rear passengers will feel pampered. A big bonus is that passengers over six feet in height will enjoy plenty of knee and legroom.

Engine: Unlike most of its competition in the mid-size SUV segment, the Kushaq will not offer a diesel engine option. It will be available in two engine options – 1-litre three-cylinder petrol with an output of 108 bhp mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox like the Skoda Rapid. The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol, on the other hand, churns out 145 bhp and will be available in either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Safety: The Kushaq comes fully loaded with safety features like electronic stability control, multi-collision brakes, six airbags including front side airbags, Hill-hold control, ISOFIX child seats and the list goes on. (MT)

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Japanese luxury brand Lexus India has introduced a new ‘Exquisite’ grade to its RX 350h line-up, strengthening the model’s presence in the luxury SUV segment.

The new RX 350h Exquisite grade starts at INR 8.99 million (ex-showroom), which goes up to INR 10.09 million (ex-showroom).

The RX 350h Exquisite grade features Lexus’ hybrid system, which combines a highly efficient 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder engine and high-output motor. It includes a bipolar nickel-metal hydride battery with enhanced performance. On the inside, it gets 10-way power adjusted front seats, heated and ventilated seating for front & rear seats and ambient lighting.

The RX 500h F-SPORT grade is the only Performance Hybrid Electric Turbocharged Luxury SUV in India. The 2.4 L-T HEV on the RX 500h features a front unit integrating a 2.4-L turbocharged engine, motor, a 6-speed automatic transmission and an eAxle with a built-in high output motor driving the rear wheels. The RX 500h features Dynamic Rear-Wheel Steering and DIRECT4 technology for acceleration.

The RX features a Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system and offers Lexus Safety System+ with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Cross Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist with Blind Spot Monitor.

Between January and November this year, the RX model recorded 12 percent growth, reflecting rising demand for luxury SUVs in the country. During the same period, SUVs contributed about 40 percent to Lexus India’s overall performance, underscoring the RX’s pivotal role in driving the brand’s momentum.

Hikaru Ikeuchi, President, Lexus India, said, ‘The Lexus RX represents our dedication to luxury, design, performance, and sustainable mobility. As the luxury SUV segment continues to grow, the introduction of the new Exquisite grade allows us to offer guests a wider range of options and features to choose from. This enhancement reflects our continued commitment to expanding our portfolio and elevating the Lexus experience in India, supported by advanced technology and a guest-first philosophy.”

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JSW MG Motor India has announced that its luxury retail channel, MG SELECT, has crossed a triple milestone: reaching 1,000-unit sales, inaugurating its 15th Experience Centre and maintaining the second position in India’s luxury EV market.

The network now encompasses 15 Experience Centres across 14 cities in India, reinforcing the brand's commitment to delivering an exclusive automotive retail journey. The recent inauguration of the 15th store in Jaipur further underscores the brand's ambition to redefine luxury mobility.

The milestone also highlighted sustained market demand for the select portfolio and is a key driver behind the brand’s 32 percent YTD growth in 2025.

The company claimed that the MG Cyberster, India's highest-selling sports car, has a 4–5 month waiting period, and the MG M9 - Presidential Limousine shows strong momentum in the luxury MPV segment. The MG Cyberster is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 7.49 million, while the MG M9 is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 6.99 million.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, "Our rise to become the second largest luxury EV brand in the country speaks to a singular belief. True luxury is felt in every touchpoint when precision, ambition and care move together. Through MG SELECT we have crafted an ownership world where innovation meets desire and where every interaction feels intentional. We are shaping the next era of electric mobility for India’s most discerning customers, with a commitment that is both bold and deeply personal.”

The MG SELECT Experience Centres are spaces for the brand's flagship vehicles. These venues provide an immersive, gallery-like setting, ensuring the display of these models is the focal point of the customer interaction. The Jaipur showroom, located at Tonk Road near Sanganer Flyover, exemplifies the MG SELECT philosophy of ‘Reimagining Luxury’, featuring spacious, serene, and technologically advanced environments that elevate the car buying journey.

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Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.

The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”

The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.

Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.

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Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.

This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.

This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.

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