Hot on the heels of the high-performance Skoda Octavia RS, which was launched earlier this month, Skoda Auto India will launch an arguably even more hotly anticipated model, its flagship SUV – the Kodiaq. The launch is scheduled for October 4, 2017.

Named after an Alaskan bear, the Kodiaq is Skoda’s first ever seven-seat vehicle and will sit at the top of the company’s model range, parallel to but slightly above the Skoda Superb sedan. The large SUV is built on the same basic underpinnings as the Superb and the Octavia (the VW Group’s modular MQB platform), although is obviously stretched out and raised for this latest application.

The SUV sits on a long 2,700mm wheelbase, rides 190mm off the ground and will get all-wheel drive (AWD), so while it won’t be cut out for serious mud-plugging, the Kodiaq should be capable of some basic soft-roading. In fact, Skoda says it has a water wading depth ability of 300mm. At launch, the car will come with a 150hp 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, although, curiously, not the more powerful 177hp version used in the Superb. You can also expect a long list of equipment, including a large touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a hands-free parking assist and full-LED lighting all round.

At an expected price of Rs 27-32 lakh (ex-showroom), the seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq SUV will be a direct rival to the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour, albeit one that’s built on a car-like monocoque chassis, which should give it an advantage in terms of manoeuvrability and ease of use. No word yet on other variants, but a petrol version is possible in the future, and perhaps even a high-performance RS variant; one can hope.

Also read: Ten things to know about the Skoda Kodiaq SUV