New Skoda Kodiaq RS 2021 to be re-imagined as petrol powered hot SUV

Skoda’s flagship Kodiaq RS will forgo its 500Nm bi-turbo diesel powertrain next year, reportedly replacing it with a more traditional go-fast petrol unit.

Skoda’s Australian arm has confirmed this new powertrain would make it to Australia, although the final outputs of a petrol version have not yet been confirmed.

Skoda spokesperson Kurt McGuiness told CarsGuide: “We have every intention to continue carrying the Kodiaq RS in Australia, if production switches to petrol then we’ll get that, too.”

It is unclear whether the Kodiaq will share the new-generation Octavia RS’ 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol, but international outlets have suggested the Octavia RS’ other powertrain, a 180kW/400Nm 1.8-litre petrol plug-in is off-the table for the Kodiaq’s facelift.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrains are not set to arrive in Australia from either Skoda or its VW parent, as the company has stated it intends on skipping PHEV powertrains for our market and gunning straight for full electrification instead. Australia is understood to be a low priority for Skoda’s first electrified models, like the Enyaq iV, however.

The current flagship diesel RS which starts from $71,990 before on-road costs in Australia will be dumped internationally due to new Euro6 regulations that tighten the noose on diesel engines via extremely low NOx targets.

Mr McGuiness also did not rule out the introduction of a 140TDI (2.0L diesel 140kW/400Nm) version of the Kodiaq available internationally, as its VW sister brand is poised to introduce the same powertrain in the related Tiguan Allspace.

“They are separate brands, separate products. We can’t confirm an introduction at this time but the 140TDI was a popular variant when we launched it originally” he said.

Cold the end of the diesel Kodiaq RS come with a silver lining of a 140TDI variant in the future?

A facelift for the Kodiaq range is due to hit its home market of Europe sometime next year, although how much of Skoda’s latest design language and cabin technology from its recently revealed Scala and next-gen Octavia it will carry is also uncertain. Stay tuned as we learn more.

Skoda is set to introduce the delayed Scala hatchback and Kamiq small SUV before the end of 2020 in its biggest launch calendar year in Australia so far.