Expanding on the achievements of its India 2.0 strategy, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has launched four new vehicles, two under the Skoda brand and two under Volkswagen. However, the company is already planning for India 2.5, which is anticipated to be significant, featuring the debut of a new sub-4m SUV. But will CNG adoption be part of the India 2.5 strategy?
Indeed, that’s correct. The forth coming India 2.5 strategy from the company might incorporate a CNG-powered vehicle. Enthusiast Abhimanyu Komawar spotted a test mule of the Skoda Slavia equipped with emission testing equipment. While this could be standard procedure for testing the current generation of 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI engines, it could signify more. Skoda had previously announced CNG powertrain development with the now-discontinued Rapid, with numerous test mules of the Rapid CNG spotted. Given that the Slavia is considered the spiritual successor of the Rapid, this project might come to fruition.
Once seen as a budget-friendly alternative, CNG powertrains have evolved into a viable option compared to diesel fuel with proper design and implementation. Tata Motors’ dual-tank CNG portfolio serves as a prime example of this concept. Skoda may have identified a market segment where the lower running costs of CNG could boost sales potential.
What other possibilities could this entail?
Firstly, the potential inclusion of a TSI 200 engine cannot be dismissed. In Latin markets like Brazil, the Volkswagen Virtus equipped with the 1.0L TSI engine delivers 128 PS of peak power and 200 Nm of peak torque in one specification, offering slightly better performance than the India-spec 1.0 TSI-equipped Slavia. Secondly, the test mule might be assessing an E30 or E85 compliant powertrain.
Latin countries like Brazil currently mandate E27 fuel and are anticipated to increase the blend to the 30% mark soon. As the Slavia’s counterpart, the Virtus, is sold in Brazil and exported from India, it’s plausible that the test mule is evaluating E30 fuel or even a higher blend like E85 for future adaptability.