Skoda has released the first design sketches of the Kamiq GT that is due to make its world premiere on 4 November in Tianjin, China. Before you get too excited, the bad news is that this model isn't set to go on sale in Europe. SUVs remain big business in China, and following the introduction of the Kamiq GT, it will become the only market in the world where Skoda offers five SUV models. In the first three quarters of 2019, Skoda delivered 194,500 vehicles in China, but that figure is down by 23 per cent in comparison to 2018, where it delivered 250,200 units.
The same but different
The Skoda Kamiq may have the same name as the model that was recently launched in Europe, but the model sold in China is quite different. Not only does it feature different styling around the front, but it is also slightly larger and only offered with a 110hp 1.5-litre petrol engine. It is produced in China in co-operation with The Volkswagen Group's joint-venture partner SIAC. One additional feature of the Kamiq is a voice command system developed by iFLYTEK, a leading Asian provider of voice recognition technology that uses artificial intelligence to deliver a better user experience.
Its sloped roofline should make the Kamiq GT more appealing to younger buyers. In China, the average buying age is almost a generation younger than in Europe, and local buyers seem to like sportier SUVs. Skoda already produces and sells a Kodiaq in China alongside a sportier Kodiaq GT, which applies the same formula to create a sportier look to the company's flagship SUV model. Both models are available with 220hp petrol engines and all-wheel drive. There is also a local-market version of the mid-size Skoda Karoq, which is 50mm longer than its European counterpart.