Skoda will be putting its performance SUV, Kodiaq RS, out of production in a few weeks’ time to get its drivetrain in line with the latest emission standards. The model should make its way back to the market in the first half of 2021, although the specifics remain unknown.
The car’s current 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged diesel engine produces 240 hp (180 kW) and up to 500 Nm (370 lb-ft) of torque. It takes the off-roader from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in seven seconds flat and puffs out between 209 and 217 grams of CO2 per kilometer – a criminal state of affairs given the latest EU norm of 95 g/km.
The big question is just how Skoda expects to deal with the issue. The diesel engine will likely have to go no matter what, and a new low-yield gasoline engine will likely come to take its place under the hood assisted by a 48V electric starter. Plug-in hybrid doesn’t seem like a viable option.
