2021 Skoda Kodiaq facelift teased ahead of April reveal – UPDATE: Australian launch timing detailed
Facelifted seven-seat SUV previewed with new lights and revised bumper designs.
UPDATE, 4pm, 31 March 2021: The updated Skoda Kodiaq slated for an Australian launch by the end of March 2022 (first quarter), though the first examples could reach customers' driveways as early as the end of 2021.
It's understood the RS performance flagship will go on sale alongside the standard range, with the current model's 176kW/500Nm 2.0-litre diesel engine rumoured to be replaced by a 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder out of the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Further details will be announced closer to launch.
31 March 2021, 11am: The 2021 Skoda Kodiaq facelift has been teased, ahead of its full debut on 13 April.
A set of design sketches released overnight reveal exterior changes to Skoda's seven-seat Kodiaq will be mild, headlined by slimmer LED headlights with lower LED fog lights, and a reshaped front bumper with a wider lower air intake.
Slimmer LED tail-lights feature at the rear, with C-shaped signatures.
It's unclear whether any changes will be made to the cabin, though there's a chance the seven-seater could gain an updated dashboard design with a tablet-style infotainment touchscreen similar to those fitted to the latest Scala and Kamiq compact models.
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The standard Kodiaq's engine line-up is expected to carry over all but unchanged, represented in Australia by a 132kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder mated to a dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The flagship Kodiaq RS will undergo greater change, however, with rumours pointing to the sporty flagship's 176kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine being replaced by a high-output turbo petrol engine, likely a version of the 213kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder under the bonnet of the outgoing Volkswagen Golf R.
The 2021 Skoda Kodiaq facelift will be unveiled on 13 April 2021, European time.
Australian launch timing has yet to be confirmed, however a local launch within the next 12 months appears probable.
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