All the three cars are powered by BS-VI compliant Turbocharged Stratified Injection (TSI) engines. The Rapid will have the new 1.0 TSI petrol engine with a power output of 110 PS (81 kW) and a fuel efficiency of 18.97 kmpl. The Superb range, Laurin & Klement and SportLine, get the new 190 PS (140 kW) 2.0 TSI petrol engine that accelerates from a standstill to a 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 239 km/h. The all-new Karoq is powered by 150 PS (110 kW) 1.5 TSI petrol engine mated with an automatic seven-speed DSG gearbox delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 16.95 kmpl (high phase WLTP) and a top speed of 202 km/h.
The company set the precedence in the contactless automotive purchase ecosystem with the market introduction of the Octavia RS 245 over its centralized booking platform early this year. The overwhelming response from automobile enthusiasts and brand loyalists from across the nation prompted the Czech marque, celebrating 125 years of its rich history and heritage, to broaden the scope of its digital endeavours. Under the 'India 2.0' project, the company will expand its geographical presence in the subcontinent, from 80 dealership facilities across 65 cities, today, to over 200 touchpoints across 150 cities, by 2025.
Talking about the unique features of the cars Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said TSI technology offers blistering power delivery without compromising on fuel efficiency and reduction of harmful CO2 emissions in line with BS-VI norms. It manages to straddle these extremes by combining direct petrol injection with turbocharging, an elegant, ingenious solution that satisfies not just technical and legal requirements, but driving thrill and fuel efficiency expectations.
There are five main elements that come together to create the magic known as TSI. Turbo charging increases the density of air pumped into the chamber. This ensures that combustion is particularly efficient, while at the same time helps raise the power output of TSI engines substantially as compared to conventional, naturally aspirated engines. It is designed to deliver maximum torque from engine speeds as low as 1500 or 1,750 revs per minute, delivering responsiveness and drivability. Acceleration is virtually instantaneous across gear ratios, allowing for safe, overtaking smoother climbs uphill. And, of course, to get the adrenaline pumping.
The Intercooler, working in tandem with the Turbo, lowers the temperature of the air that is fed into the engine. This more dense, oxygen-rich air helps improve the combustion, while also increasing reliability and reducing the possibility of detonation or engine knocking.
Compact construction; in the past, it used to be said that there was no replacement for displacement. It is not anymore as the TSI engine features a cast aluminum alloy block and dye forged steel crankshaft for strength. Of course, turbocharging helps in extracting more power from a smaller engine. While fewer moving parts translate to a significant reduction in power loss caused by friction, the compact construction also means a lighter weight for the vehicle to shift, on the move.
Fuel stratified injection is a direct outcome of development in a high position technology and material sciences in the TSI range of engines. Fuel is injected into the combustion chamber directly. The new state-of-the-art injector, with six valves for electronic direct injection, has been designed to further optimize an efficient distribution of fuel mixture or automisation. It is the leaner fuel mixture that helps the TSI engine offer exceptional fuel economy. At the same time, power delivery is much more linear and there are no unpleasant bumps or peaks in the middle of the red band.
Finally, an active cylinder management helped the company to move ahead in its quest for offering better fuel economy, depending on the power requirement.
The new Karoq comes with 1.5 TSI petrol engine, mated with an automatic seven-speed DSG gearbox, delivering 150 PS of power and a peak torque output of 250 Nm, while delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 16.95 kmpl (high phase WLTP) and a top speed of 202 km/h. With Active Cylinder Technology, to further boost the fuel economy, two of the four cylinders in the TSI powertrain are deactivated, in view of the power requirement.
The new version of Superb comes in two trim options - the Sportline and L&K variants. It gets a 2-litre, four-cylinder TSI petrol motor with a seven-speed DSG gearbox delivering 190 PS of power and a peak torque output of 320 Nm while delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 15.10 kmpl. It accelerates from a standstill to a 100 km/h in mere 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 239 km/h.
The mid-size sedan Skoda Rapid is the economical one of all three of them. The diesel variants of the Rapid have been discontinued and the new one comes with a 1-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol motor that puts out 110 PS of power at 5,000 rpm and 175 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. Mated with the six-speed manual transmission it offers 18.97 kmpl under standard test conditions. When compared with the outgoing 1.6 MPI engine, the new car offers a five percent upsurge in power and a 14 percent rise in torque output. At the same time it offers a 23% increase in fuel efficiency against the previous motor.
“2020 is a special year for us; it’s our 125th anniversary and Skoda will leave no stone unturned for the success of these three new vehicles. We are already receiving encouraging numbers of bookings for the three new models and Skoda is also accepting online booking as the portal integrates 80 dealerships online. The entire contact less experience will make sure that our customer is safe. We are offering 100 percent ex-showroom funding plus you can buy a car now and pay only somewhere near Diwali. We have low EMI and also offer loyalty benefits too,” Hollis said. (MT)
Škoda Auto India Strengthens Western Presence With Triple Facility Launch In Gujarat
- By MT Bureau
- July 15, 2026
Škoda Auto India has expanded its Gujarat network with three new Customer Touchpoints in Ahmedabad and Himmatnagar, developed in collaboration with PPS Motors Pvt. Ltd. The additions comprise a sales and service hub at Naroda, a sales-only outlet at Maninagar and a Compact 3S facility in Himmatnagar, reinforcing the automaker’s footprint in western India.
The Naroda site spans 26,700 square feet, accommodating six display cars, 19 service bays and an Express Care Bay for swift repairs. Maninagar’s 4,800-square-foot showroom houses seven vehicles, while Himmatnagar’s 10,600-square-foot compact centre features four display cars and four service bays. All facilities adhere to the Modern Solid global design language, ensuring a premium customer environment.
With this rollout, Škoda Auto India’s Gujarat presence now totals 25 touchpoints across 16 cities, including Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Gandhinagar, among others. The new outlets are positioned to deliver comprehensive sales and after-sales support, aligning with the brand’s regional growth strategy.
Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, said, “With the inauguration of these new facilities in Gujarat, we continue to strengthen Škoda Auto India’s presence across the state and the western region of India. Ahmedabad alone has five Customer Touchpoints now operational, and we are bringing our complete product range closer to customers while ensuring they experience the highest standards of service and care. Gujarat remains a vital pillar of India's growth, and with the Kylaq, new Kushaq, Kodiaq and Slavia, we are confident of growing the Škoda brand in this important market.”
Rajiv Sanghvi, Dealer Principal, PPS Motors Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Škoda through the inauguration of these new touchpoints. This marks our entry into Gujarat and a significant milestone in our expansion across Western India. With 28 Škoda Auto-PPS Customer Touchpoints across Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and now Gujarat, this expansion reflects our shared commitment to delivering a premium customer experience across every stage of the ownership journey. By combining Škoda Auto's advanced products and customer-centric philosophy with PPS Group's automotive expertise spanning more than 75 years, we are committed to delivering a best-in-class ownership experience while establishing a strong Škoda Auto presence in the region.”
PPS Motors Inaugurates New Mahindra Dealership In Pune's Camp Area
- By MT Bureau
- July 15, 2026
PPS Motors has inaugurated a new Mahindra touchpoint in Pune, further solidifying its presence within Maharashtra as part of a broader strategy to enhance customer accessibility and service quality. The facility was officially opened in the presence of senior officials from Mahindra & Mahindra, including Aman Malik, National Sales Head; Gaurav Beohar, Zonal Sales Head (West); Prabhakar Jakkan, Regional Sales Manager; Pakshal Shah, Chief of Staff, PPS Group, marking a significant collaboration between the two organisations.
Located strategically on East Street in Camp, the newly established 3,600 sft showroom is engineered to offer a premium and immersive customer journey. The space can accommodate up to five vehicles simultaneously, displaying Mahindra’s full range of passenger vehicles, which includes both internal combustion engine and electric options. Every aspect of the dealership, from its modern colour scheme and dynamic lighting to its intuitive technology, has been meticulously crafted to reflect progressive design and refined elegance, allowing visitors to explore breakthrough innovations such as the INGLO Electric Origin architecture and the advanced MAIA automotive mind.
This launch significantly bolsters PPS Motors’ extensive network, as the group now operates 149 Mahindra touchpoints across six states, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The Camp location represents the eighth Mahindra facility in Pune, comprising seven showrooms and one workshop. Within just two years of commencing local operations, PPS-Mahindra has sold over 6,200 vehicles in the Pune region, and the group achieved approximately 41,500 Mahindra vehicle sales nationwide in FY 2026, cementing its status as the manufacturer’s largest sales and after-sales partner in India.
The expansion arrives amid robust regional automotive growth, with Pune’s passenger vehicle registrations rising to 74,814 units in 2025. Furthermore, Maharashtra has maintained its dominance in the electric vehicle sector, recording retail sales of 34,139 e-PVs in FY 2026, a remarkable 100 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, underscoring the growing consumer appetite for both conventional and electric mobility solutions in the state.
Rajiv Sanghvi, Dealer Principal, PPS Group, said, “We are delighted to inaugurate our 149th Mahindra touchpoint at the prestigious Camp location in Pune. This expansion reinforces our nearly seven-decade partnership with Mahindra, built on trust, shared growth and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction while further strengthening our position as its largest dealership partner in India, with around 41,500 vehicle sales in FY2026. With Mahindra’s future-ready products, customer-focused approach coupled with our deep understanding of the customer needs, we together endeavour to provide best-in-class ownership experience for our customers.”
Maruti Suzuki Commences Bookings For New Brezza C-SUV
- By MT Bureau
- July 14, 2026
Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has opened bookings for the 2026 Brezza, which is set to be launched on 24 July 2026.
The SUV can be reserved at Maruti Suzuki ARENA showrooms or via the company website for an amount of INR 11,000. Since its launch in 2016, the company has sold over 1.4 million units of the Brezza.
Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, "Brezza's extraordinary journey since its introduction in 2016 has made it India’s highest selling compact SUV. In 10 Years, Brezza has won the trust of over 1.4 million customers which is a testament of its product supremacy and segment domination. In 2026, The new Brezza will represent a perfect synthesis of customer’s love and unlock a new dimension of excitement. We invite customers to book the new Brezza today and be among the first to experience it."
Kia Carens Sales Crosses 300,000 Units Milestone in India
- By MT Bureau
- July 14, 2026
Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced that the Carens SUV family has reached a cumulative sales milestone of 300,000 units, which includes the Carens, Carens Clavis and the Carens Clavis EV.
At present, the Carens lineup sales consist of 60 percent petrol, 30 percent diesel and 10 percent electric. The Carens Clavis EV is available with two battery capacities: a 51.4 kWh option providing a 490 km range and a 42 kWh option with a 404 km range. The EV features fast charging, capable of reaching 80 percent charge from 10 percent in 39 minutes, and is powered by motors delivering 255 Nm of torque.
Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “The 300,000-unit milestone for the Carens underscores its position as a segment leader and a true gamechanger in the MPV space. This achievement is a direct result of our product-led strategy, our sharp understanding of customer needs, and our unwavering focus on quality. It strengthens our conviction that the Carens is the benchmark for its class, and we are energized to build on this momentum as we accelerate our growth journey."
Furthermore, for Carens the top trim levels account for 18 percent of total sales.
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