300 BHP Skoda Karoq vRS Could be Developed in the Future

India-Bound Skoda Karoq 1

Skoda Karoq vRS may receive the same 300 bhp turbocharged four-cylinder engine used in the Seat Ateca Cupra to stake claim in the hot SUV segment

Skoda’s boss Bernhard Maier has said that his company could address the performance based car buyers with a new variant of the recently unveiled Karoq SUV. It is no secret that the model range of Skoda used to be treated with the vRS injection more often than not in the overseas markets and it looks like the compact Karoq SUV could follow the same recipe.

At the Karoq’s launch event in Sweden, Maier stated that there is a certain demand among the customers wanting to see the vRS badge fitted with a SUV. No decision has been made just yet but since the selling potential is said to be there, the Karoq could face an in-house performance tuning in the years to come.

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India-Bound Skoda Karoq 3

Several rumours suggested that the vRS development could be completely dropped from Skoda. A couple of generations of the Fabia hatchback received hotter version before the discontinuation and currently only the popular Octavia lineup has the vRS variants being sold in several foreign countries.

The Skoda Octavia facelift is expected to be launched in India in the coming months. It is also likely to gain the vRS treatment but as for the potential Karoq vRS, it might adapt the same turbocharged four-cylinder engine being used in the Seat Ateca Cupra making 300 bhp. It will be just enough to meet the competition in the performance-based SUV segment.

Also Read: Skoda Kodiaq SUV’s Bookings Commence in India; Listed on Official Website

India-Bound Skoda Karoq 4

Additionally, along the lines, the Karoq could get a hybrid variant as well. The Czech Republican brand will launch its first plug-in hybrid model in 2019 via the Superb sedan. The flexible MQB architecture in which the Karoq is based on may allow for a hybrid powertrain to be installed in the future.