2020 Skoda Pickup Truck: Concept, Rumors

Skoda is a growing brand and it enjoys a huge success of its new crossover SUVs especially the large Kodiaq. The Kodiaq is a great all-rounder and gets good scores for practicality, ride comfort and value. Skoda will further expand its model range in the future and reports suggest a possible entering to the new market segments. The brand is allegedly considering the pickup truck version and some reports even claim the 2020 Skoda Pickup Truck model.

Skoda hasn’t commented on the rumors about the pickup model but presented recently the Kodiaq-based Mountiaq model developed and built in the Student Concept Car project. It took 2000 hours to transform the large SUV to the pickup form and the truck model looks good and has several clever solutions. Skoda did a similar thing with the Skoda Fabia when transformed it to the Funstar concept pickup truck. However, this doesn’t still mean that Skoda is ready to enter this potentially lucrative segment. The model could get attention as the cheaper variant of the VW Amarok although some sources suggest Skoda’s truck would be the uni-body design derived from the Kodiaq SUV as the Montiaq concept.

2020 Skoda Pickup Truck

2020 Skoda Pickup Truck: Design

Rumors suggest two possible approaches Skoda could use if decides to go to the production of the pickup truck. One approach is to do the same as with that Mountaiq Concept and transform its large Kodiq SUV to the lifestyle truck. Like with the Mountiaq, the production version would get the reinforced body and sit on the stretched wheelbase to open the room for the cargo bed.

The Mountiq Concept is a two-door model with short cargo bed but the production version would likely get the four-door cab and larger more functional cargo bed.

The second approach is to use the underpinning of the popular VW Amarok and running gear while the sheet metal would be with the Skoda’s signature.

As for the styling of the rumored 2020 Skoda Pickup Truck, it would share the design language with the brand’s new SUV models. Like the Honda Pilot-based Ridgeline model, the Skoda Pickup Truck could have almost identical front-end design and profile as the large Kodiaq SUV but add cargo bed behind the rear pillars.

Interior, Equipment:

The interior of the rumored truck version would also be a familiar design if the model appears. It would likely be a typical Skoda with versatile, solidly built interior and easy to use controls.

The model would likely adopt a similar, horizontally oriented dash design and use the brand’s new infotainment system. The Kodiaq offers a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen and bigger 9.2-inch unit in upper grades. Skoda’s SmartLink+ system supports Apple Car Play and Android Auto and has well-design functions and high responsiveness. The truck would also offer Wi-Fi hotspot and sat-nav, different material options and more. There would also be automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and other active safety systems.

2020 Skoda Pickup Truck

2020 Skoda Pickup Truck: Powertrains

Skoda offers several punchy and smooth both diesel and petrol engines in the large Kodiaq SUV and they can be the solution for the 2020 Skoda Pickup Truck.

The Mountiaq Concept model has a 2.0-liter TSI engine under the hood with the output of 190 hp. A 2.0-liter TDI version might also be used in the pickup truck version with similar output. Skoda might also equip the truck model with the 2.0-liter bi-turbo four-cylinder unit from vRS version with the power production around 240 hp.

The transmission of choice would likely be a seven-speed automatic. The model would also come with four-wheel drive and possibly some off-road enhancements in the package option or as the trim version.   

2020 Skoda Pickup Truck: Release, Price

Skoda hasn’t announced the arrival of the pickup truck model or commented on the rumors. The 2020 Skoda Pickup Truck is likely just a matter of speculations but in the next decade, the possibility for this model could open. The model could get the chance as a more affordable alternative to the VW Amarok which could hit the US market in the future as some reports suggest. VW presented also several uni-body concept pickup trucks which could get the production version in the US. Still, many factors should be considered when entering the new segment. We witnessed that some projects haven’t proved well as the discontinued Fiat Fullback and even Mercedes could cancel recently introduced X-Class.

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