Part of Volkswagen Group’s electrification program, the Skoda Kodiaq plug-in hybrid will follow hot on the heels of the Superb PHEV, in three years’ time.
Confirmed by the brand’s chief Bernhard Maier at the launch of the seven-seater SUV, the eco-friendly version will go on sale in China first, with the European market following it shortly, as AutoExpress writes.
“We will have a Kodiaq hybrid very shortly after the Superb hybrid. It will be in China first, as that is the biggest market, but Europe (will follow) soon after.”
When asked why it will take so long to bring out the electrified Kodiaq, Maier said: “As we’ve stated before, we do not have to bring all the technology available in the group immediately to Skoda – we can afford to wait. What’s really important is that our current product remains popular in traditional markets. We reckon 2019 is a good time to launch a plug-in.“
The Skoda official didn’t release any technical details on such a model, but it’s expected to share a version of the VW Passat GTE’s powertrain with the Superb, meaning that a 1.4-liter TSI turbo petrol unit with 156 PS (154 HP) will work together with a 115 PS (113 HP) electric motor.
In the Passat GTE, output is sent to the front wheels through a specially developed six-speed DSG transmission, allowing it to go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.6 seconds and up to a top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph). The Passat GTE can travel up to 50 km (31 miles) on electric power alone, and once the internal combustion engine kicks in, the range increases to 1,060 km (660 miles).
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