Skoda has revealed the official name of its upcoming subcompact SUV that’s aimed strictly at the European market and will be known as the Kamiq.
The automaker says the word comes from the language of the Inuit people and “describes something that fits perfectly as a second skin in every situation”. It also falls in line with the brand’s SUV naming scheme, with both the Karoq and Kodiaq beginning with ‘K’ and ending with ‘Q’.
The moniker is already being used on another SUV that is limited to the Chinese market. That one, however, is a tad larger than the Karoq, whereas the new one will be smaller. Think of it as the Czech auto firm’s version of the Volkswagen T-Cross and Seat Arona, as it will be underpinned by the same MQB A0 platform.
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Expected solely with front-wheel drive, the new Euro-spec Kamiq will share its engines with the Arona and T-Cross. Thus, clients should look for small three- and four-cylinder petrol units, and probably the 1.6-liter TDI diesel as well. An electrified version probably won’t be a long stretch in the future, given that the Vision X Concept that previewed it came with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, a rear-mounted electric motor and a 48V system. Which makes it all-wheel drive, though it’s not confirmed that the production car will use the same powertrain.
The Kamiq’s world premiere will take place at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show on March 5, before going on sale across the Old Continent at a later date. Since it slots under the Karoq, it will be cheaper than the compact model, which starts at £21,940 ($28,548/€25,104) in the United Kingdom and €22,490 ($25,572/£19,651) in Germany.
