Skoda Auto India introduces the new Kodiaq Scout
Mumbai: ŠKODA AUTO India unveiled the new KODIAQ SCOUT at an attractive introductory ex-showroom price of INR 33.99 lacs. Introduced in 2017, the KODIAQ marked ŠKODA’s foray into the popular full-size SUV segment, in India. The SCOUT variant, with its characteristic design, robust appearance, generous proportions, all-wheel drive and off-terrain capabilities, pushes the yardstick further. Its muscular body frame with silver protective elements radiates wild beauty, toughness, and an appetite for adventure.
The KODIAQ SCOUT comes equipped with the 2.0 TDI (DSG) diesel engine that generates 150 PS (110 kW) of power and a peak torque output of 340Nm. The seven seater ŠKODA KODIAQ SCOUT will be available in four colour options: Lava Blue, Quartz Grey, Moon White, and Magic Black, across all authorized ŠKODA AUTO dealership facilities in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Zac Hollis, Director – Sales, Service and Marketing, ŠKODA AUTO India, said “The KODIAQ model range caters a growing class of discerning customers with the penchant for luxury as well as the right 'value for money' proposition. The new KODIAQ SCOUT is an integral part of our SUV campaign in India. While retaining its strong family characteristics - emotive design, exquisite interiors, class-leading safety as well as intelligent connectivity features - the SCOUT, with its distinctive design and all-terrain capabilities, offers a compelling combination and will continue to drive ŠKODA's success in India.”
DESIGN
The ŠKODA KODIAQ SCOUT inherits the signature contoured body of the KODIAQ, and arms it with dynamic details. The fascia is dominated by distinctive chrome surround on the radiator grille, and the front bumper with silver-coloured spoiler emphasize the off-road capabilities of the KODIAQ SCOUT. The characteristic LED headlamps with illuminated 'eyelashes' of the KODIAQ finds its way inside the SCOUT, too. The location of the sharply drawn fog lamps at the height of the grille, protected from damage, clearly shows the off-road ambitions of the latest offering from the Czech marque. The KODIAQ SCOUT opens up new vistas with the electrically-adjustable panoramic sunroof, which enhances the feeling of space.
At the rear, the KODIAQ SCOUT dons crystalline elements in the ŠKODA-typical C-shape LED taillights. The rear bumper with silver protective cover borders the exhaust pipes and the diffuser; lending the KODIAQ SCOUT a robust appearance.
New sculptural shapes, dynamic elements, and precise features lend the vehicle an emotive and authentic appearance with a strong identity of its own. The new KODIAQ SCOUT is characterized by the next development stage of the ŠKODA design language, which will be also present in future ŠKODA models. The new KODIAQ SCOUT is the first product, in India, to bear ‘ŠKODA’ in block lettering on the tailgate instead of the ŠKODA logo.
The square wheel arches housing the dual-tone Anthracite R (18) Trinity alloy wheels, angular mud flaps with plastic edges, protective sill covers, and underbody Rough Road Package ensures that one may go off the paved roads, without fear. The silver roof railings, matte silver wing mirror housings, and the chrome strips around the side window intensify the premium feel of this new ŠKODA SUV. The SCOUT plaque, sitting on the front fenders, is tastefully complemented by the KODIAQ-embossed aluminium scuff plates that entice all into the interior.
The all-new KODIAQ SCOUT gets brushed wooden décor. The decorative elements are black and gracefully complemented by chrome highlights. Elegant touches such as the SCOUT logo on the black Alcantara® leather upholstery, and the infotainment system home screen, are eye-catching and appreciated details. The LED ambient lighting, running along the inside of the KODIAQ SCOUT, offers ten appealing colour options.
PERFORMANCE
The SCOUT comes equipped with the 2.0 TDI (DSG) diesel engine from the ŠKODA KODIAQ model range. With 16 valves Dual Over-Head Camshaft (DOHC), it generates 150 PS (110 kW) of power and a peak torque output of 340Nm while delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 16.25 km/l and a top speed of 194 km/h.
The all-wheel or 4x4 drive system is based on an electro-hydraulically controlled multi-disc inter-axle clutch designed to smoothly distribute the torque between the front and rear axles in a ratio ranging between 96%- 4% and 10%-90%. The system can transmit as much as 85% of the available torque to a single wheel (in conjunction with the EDS). The coupling of the rear axle is automatic, so under normal conditions, the car can utilize the advantages of front-wheel drive, and under extreme conditions the excellent traction of the 4x4 drive.
Activated with mode button on the center console, Driving Mode Select offers Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual modes as well as the Snow Mode, which ensures good handling even on low-grip surfaces.
With the intelligent Off-Road-Mode system, which operates at speeds of up to 30 km/h, one can handle extreme terrains. It is designed to adjust the characteristics of the engine, electronic assistants, and stability control systems. The activated functions, which includes the steering wheel angle, the compass, the altimeter, and the oil and coolant temperature, are shown on the infotainment display.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Standard safety equipment on the KODIAQ SCOUT includes a wide range of features such as nine airbags, which remains the segment benchmark.
As standard, the bottom part of the KODIAQ SCOUT is protected by plastic covers that, besides serving the protective function, are shaped aerodynamically to optimize the air flows under the vehicle. To increase the degree of chassis protection, the vehicle is fitted with the Rough Road Package, taking the form of additional protection for the engine bay, oil sump, gearbox, rear suspension, lateral arms, and brake hoses.
The car is equipped with iBuzz Fatigue Alert which detects signs of fatigue in the driver and prompts him or her to take a break. In addition, a host of security equipment and safety support functions include AFS (Adaptive Front light System), ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), MBA (Mechanical Brake Assist), MKB (Multi Collision Brake), HBA (Hydraulic BrakeAssist), ASR (Anti Slip Regulation), and EDS (Electronic Differential Lock).
The ŠKODA KODIAQ SCOUT also features the all-new state-of-the-art Anti-Theft alarm with interior monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring system, acoustic warning signal for overrun speed, engine immobiliser with floating code system, dual-tone warning horn, and Parktronic sensors at front and rear.
‘SIMPLY CLEVER’ TOUCHES
The Power Nap Package of the ŠKODA KODIAQ SCOUT will enable rear passengers to sleep soundly on a long journey. It includes variable headrests of the outer seats for a comfortably supported head posture while sleeping, and two blankets.
The Hands-Free Parking minimizes the hassle of parking in tight spots by automatically selecting an appropriate parking place in a row of parallel or perpendicularly parked vehicles. In today’s crowded cities and space-starved streets, hands-free parking is a blessing indeed and needs a space 60 cm longer than the car itself when parking in parallel.
The KODIAQ SCOUT also features a Digital Voice Enhancement feature, which transmits the driver’s and front passenger’s voice to the passengers in the rear via a microphone in the cockpit, thereby facilitating a smooth interaction among occupants.
With the largest boot capacity within its class, the KODIAQ SCOUT will never make a compromise on business, pleasure, and practical essentials. The KODIAQ SCOUT offers an impressive capacity of 270 litres, which extends to 2,005 litres with the rear seats folded down. The swipe foot movement underneath, withthe Virtual Pedal enables contact-free access to this unrivalled luggage space.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
The state-of-the-art 20.32 cm capacitive touch display features a glass design and is a part of the new generation Amundsen Infotainment and Navigation System developed by ŠKODA. The SmartLink+TM all-in-one technology integrates SmartGateTM, alongside Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLinkTM, as standard. The premium Canton Sound System features 10 speakers, including subwoofer, and has a power output of 575 watts. New age connectivity solutions along with BossConnectTM, integrated with the ŠKODA Media Command
App, help occupants control functions like navigation, entertainment, and assistance, from the comfort of the back seat.
The Three-Zone Climatronic air conditioning system enables different temperatures to be set for the driver, front and rear passengers. It is also fitted with a humidity sensor, which reduces windscreen misting, and a sun sensor. The Boarding Spots, designated to illuminate the entry area, are located on the external side-view mirrors.
For details, quesries and bookings contact: Mangaluru: +917874334444, Bengaluru +917874223333
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SC stays CBI probe into West Bengal govt officials' role in teacher recruitment scam
New Delhi, Apr 29: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Calcutta High Court order directing the CBI to probe the role of West Bengal government officials in a teacher recruitment scam. It, however, refused to stay for now the cancellation of the appointment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff.
The top court was hearing a plea by the West Bengal government against a high court order invalidating the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made by the School Service Commission (SSC) in state-run and state-aided schools.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, however, refused to stay the high court order cancelling the appointments and said it will hear the matter on May 6.
Observing that taking away the jobs of about 25,000 persons is a serious matter, the top court asked if it is possible to segregate the valid and invalid appointments on the basis of the material available and who the beneficiaries of the fraud are.
"We will stay the direction which says the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) will undertake further investigation against officials in the state government," the bench said.
Calcutta High Court had said the CBI would undertake further investigations with regard to the persons in the state government involved in approving the creation of supernumerary posts to accommodate illegal appointments.
If necessary, the CBI will undertake custodial interrogation of such persons involved, it had said.
Challenging the order, the state government, in its appeal filed before the top court, said the high court cancelled the appointments "arbitrarily".
"The high court failed to appreciate the ramification of cancelling the entire selection process, leading to straightaway termination of teaching and non-teaching staff from service with immediate effect, without giving sufficient time to the petitioner state to deal with such an exigency, rendering the education system at a standstill," the plea said.
Calcutta High Court last week declared the selection process as "null and void" and directed the CBI to probe the appointment process. It also asked the central agency to submit a report within three months.
"All appointments granted in the selection processes involved being violative of articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, are declared null and void and cancelled," the high court said in its April 22 order.
The high court said those appointed outside the officially available 24,640 vacancies, appointed after the expiry of the official date of recruitment, and those who submitted blank Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets but obtained appointment to return all remunerations and benefits received by them with 12 per cent interest per annum within four weeks.
Observing that it had given "anxious consideration to the passionate plea" that persons who obtained the appointments legally would be prejudiced if the entire selection process was cancelled, the bench said it hardly had any choice left.
The high court held that all appointments involved were violative of articles 14 (equality before law) and 16 (prohibiting discrimination in employment in any government office) of the Constitution.
"It is shocking that, at the level of the cabinet of the state government, a decision is taken to protect employment obtained fraudulently in a selection process conducted by SSC for state-funded schools, knowing fully well that, such appointments were obtained beyond the panel and after expiry of the panel, at the bare minimum," the high court had said.
It said unless "there is a deep connection between the persons perpetuating the fraud and the beneficiaries" with persons involved in the decision-making process, such action to create supernumerary posts to protect illegal appointments is "inconceivable".
The division bench had also rejected a prayer by some appellants, including the SSC, for a stay on the order and asked the commission to initiate a fresh appointment process within a fortnight from the date of the results of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
The bench, constituted by the high court chief justice on a direction of the Supreme Court, had heard 350 petitions and appeals relating to the selection of candidates for appointment by the SSC in the categories of teachers of classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 and group-C and D staffers through the SLST-2016.
In its 282-page judgment, the high court had said retaining appointees selected through "such a dubious process" would be contrary to public interest.
