New Delhi: Skoda India has recently announced that it will launch the Kodiaq RS performance SUV by June 2026. The Kodiaq will be the first SUV to get an RS version in India. It gets more sporty cosmetic bits for the exterior and interior, and a more powerful version of the 2.0-litre TSI engine. The Kodiaq RS is powered by the same engine that does duty in the previously launched Octavia RS. It produces 265hp and 400 Nm of torque, an increment of 60hp and 80 Nm over the standard Kodiaq.
The engine is mated to a 7-speed DCT gearbox and gets an AWD setup. The model can achieve a top speed of 231kph and takes 6.3 seconds for a 0-100kph sprint. The brakes have been upgraded as well, with slotted brake discs and two-pot callipers on its front axle. Adaptive dampers are offered as standard, but it is yet to be confirmed if the India-spec model will get this feature. The Kodiaq RS gets cosmetic changes over the standard model for a more sporty look overall. The front end gets a restyled bumper, a blacked-out grille and wide air dams. The side profile is similar to the standard model, although it comes with the body coloured finish on the lower side of the doors, a blacked-out C-pillar and sportier design for the 20-inch alloy wheels with the red brake callipers.
It also gets a blacked-out finish for the roof rails, exterior mirror caps and upper part of the window frames. The rear end is also similar to the standard Kodiaq, except for the mirror redesign of the bumper. The cabin gets an all-black theme with red accents and contrast red stitching. It also features thick bolstered seats with RS branding on the integrated headrests, a large 13-inch infotainment screen, a digital driver’s display, and rotating knobs for the HVAC and volume controls. The Kodiaq RS is expected to be priced around Rs 55 lakh to Rs 60 lakh ex-showroom.
