Following the launch of the KUSHAQ, ŠKODA is set to unveil the second stage in its product campaign for the Indian market later this year.
The Czech car manufacturer’s latest model, the SLAVIA, completes their range of saloons and offers generous amounts of space, as is typical of the brand.
The A0 mid-size saloon will be offered with a choice of two powerful and efficient TSI engines, as well as a host of comprehensive safety features which include up to six airbags and numerous assistance systems. Volkswagen Group is investing one billion euros in the INDIA 2.0 project headed by ŠKODA AUTO.
Thomas Schäfer, ŠKODA AUTO CEO, said: “Following the successful launch of our compact SUV, the KUSHAQ, we are now upping the ante with this latest model, the SLAVIA. I feel confident this saloon will appeal to new customers in India. We are taking the next step towards achieving our ambitious goal of developing ŠKODA AUTO into the leading European car manufacturer in India.”
Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director of ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited, explained: “With the new ŠKODA SLAVIA, we are continuing our model campaign under the INDIA 2.0 project. Following hard on the heels of the KUSHAQ – which is highly appreciated by Indian customers for its robust build, safety, high quality and excellent value for money – the SLAVIA will deliver on all these aspects and set new benchmarks for design and performance in its segment. Built in India for India and the world, our latest model illustrates the skills and expertise of our local engineers who contributed significantly to its development, in collaboration with the global team.”
Zac Hollis, Brand Director ŠKODA AUTO India, said: “With our new SLAVIA, we are launching a feature-rich vehicle that offers outstanding design, build quality, reliability and driving dynamics. The SLAVIA combines the benefits of a mid-size saloon with ŠKODA’s emotive design language, modern technology and state-of-the-art assistance systems.”
The brand-new SLAVIA: a homage to ŠKODA AUTO’s heritage
The model name of this latest saloon commemorates the beginnings of Laurin & Klement in Mladá Boleslav. Just one year after the company was founded, in 1896, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement successfully marketed their first bicycles under the brand name SLAVIA. The ŠKODA SLAVIA is now set to mark a new era, this time on the Indian market – with its model name paying homage to the company’s beginnings.
Compact, spacious and with an emotive design
The SLAVIA is 4,541 mm* long, 1,752 mm* wide and has a height of 1,487 mm*; the wheelbase measures 2,651 mm*. While its compact exterior dimensions make it a perfect fit for cities, this brand-new car is also ideally suited for everyday family use thanks to its brand-typical generous interior.
Numerous assistance systems for increased comfort and high levels of safety
The brand-new saloon comes with excellent active and passive safety features. Occupants are protected by up to six airbags – for the driver and front passenger, as well as optional front side airbags and head curtain airbags.
Powerful, globally proven TSI engines with low fuel consumption
There is a choice of two powerful and efficient TSI engines for the new ŠKODA SLAVIA. They offer both superior driving performance and high levels of efficiency. The entry-level 1.0-litre TSI develops 85 kW (115 PS)* from its three cylinders, while the four-cylinder 1.5-litre TSI has an output of 110 kW (150 PS)*. Both engines transfer their power to the front wheels. The SLAVIA comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. A six-speed automatic transmission is optional for the 1.0-litre TSI while the 1.5-litre TSI can also be paired with a seven-speed DSG. The 1.5 TSI is offered with active cylinder technology (ACT), which automatically shuts down two cylinders when the engine load is low. This enhances fuel efficiency.
Winner of local design competition creates the special camouflage
The camouflage for the SLAVIA is the work of an Indian designer. More than 200 motifs were submitted to ŠKODA AUTO India as part of a competition, and five creations were selected for the final round. The jury – Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director of ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited, Zac Hollis, Brand Director of ŠKODA AUTO India, and Oliver Stefani, Head of ŠKODA Design – chose the wraps created by Shreyas Karambelkar, who won a trip to Prague and a meeting with Oliver Stefani.
INDIA 2.0: investments of one billion euros and localisation of up to 95%
The Czech carmaker oversees the activities of the ŠKODA, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini brands in India for Volkswagen Group, with more than 25 models that cater for various market segments and price points. With the INDIA 2.0 project, the Group aims to strengthen the presence of ŠKODA and Volkswagen in the country for the long run and, depending on market and segment development, achieve a combined market share of 5% by 2025.
Investments in the project total one billion euros, including 275 million euros in the research and development of new models in the country’s high-volume segments. The Czech car manufacturer has set up a new MQB-A0-IN production line at its Pune plant which means the SLAVIA has been built with local talent. The platform was predominantly developed at the technology centre (also based in Pune) and, as a result, ŠKODA AUTO has achieved a localisation level of up to 95%. In the medium term, the carmaker intends to export the models built in India to other emerging markets.
* Provisional information – final data will be published once the car has been homologated.
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