Skoda unveiled the Kodiaq GT, a mid-size crossover SUV with sportier styling that will only be available in China. The 7-speed DSG gearbox will be standard and, judging by the leaked interior shots, Skoda is targeting a wealthier clientele with this new model.
Czech automaker Skoda, part of the VAG Group, has been on a roll lately. They barely took the wraps off the menacing Kodiaq vRS that claims to be the fastest ever seven-seater SUV to lap the Nurburgring-Nordschleife. Now, they're back with a new model, the Kodiaq GT, Skoda's first Coupe SUV.
It features the same sloped rear window like the 'creator' of this niche, BMW's X6, but, unlike the Bimmer, you won't be able to get it unless you live in China.
Keep reading to find out if it's worth it to move to China for this Skoda
Is Skoda right in selling the Kodiaq GT only in China?
We've seen a flurry of manufacturers creating compact and mid-size crossover SUVs for the avid Chinese market in the last few years, and Skoda is the latest marque to join the fray.
"The Skoda Kodiaq GT is an important milestone in Skoda’s China strategy," said Dr. Ralf Hanschen, President of Skoda China. "Being the first coupe SUV in our model range specifically designed for the Chinese market. We are confident that this sporty and stylish ŠKODA model will appeal to new customer groups and provide an even more impressive driving experience for our customers in China."
The Kodiaq GT shares most of its styling cues with the basic Kodiaq SUV. You'll find the same chrome-framed grille up front with the 'smiling' mesh that links the headlights going underneath. The corners of the lower bumper grille are also pointing upwards creating a pleasant, yet quite aggressive front fascia thanks to the narrow headlights that are vaguely similar to those on a Range Rover.
The character line just below the windows works with the chiseled skirts in directing the eyes backward, following the sloping roofline. It all comes together at the back which is dominated by the sharp taillights. Both the rear lamps and the ones up front feature LED technology. The trunk forms a sharp line just below the narrow and angled rear window. Then, the trunk tilts towards the inside of the body. That's where Skoda placed the brand lettering in individual letters.
But Skoda also wants the Kodiaq GT to feel executive on the inside. According to the Czech manufacturer, "in the interior, the eye is immediately drawn to the high-quality materials and fully customizable Virtual Cockpit, which comes as standard. As is typical for Skoda, there are numerous practical ‘Simply Clever’ ideas. With Wi-Fi access and MirrorLink™, Apple CarPlay and Baidu’s Carlife, the Kodiaq GT is always online and at the cutting edge of connectivity."
The Kodiaq GT will be available with a choice of two gas-powered engines. There's a 2.0-liter TSi engine for the lower-trim FWD version that develops 186-horsepower, and then there's the 220-horsepower option of the same capacity that will be fitted on the AWD Kodiaq GT models. This will come with a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. Skoda will equip the Kodiaq GT with a number of modern safety features such as Blind Spot Detect, Front Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with the stop-go function.
Skoda goes on to underline in the press release posted online today the importance of the Chinese market which has been the brand's largest selling market for some eight years already. "According to a five-year plan, laid out in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016 during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the Czech Republic, more than two billion euros will be invested in the expansion of the SUV portfolio and the development of alternative-drive ŠKODA vehicles." The Kodiaq GT, which is part of this large-scale plan, will debut in flesh during the Guangzhou Motor Show, which takes place between 16 and 25 November 2018.
Further Reading
Read our in-depth review of the 2017 Skoda Kodiaq.
Read our review of the 2019 Skoda Kodiaq RS.
Read our full review on the 2019 BMW X4.