Indian Autos blog

The world was stunned when Jeremy Clarkon named the Skoda Yeti as the best car in the world. ‘OH! When was the last time he spoke sense’ you say. Well, it seems that he was right. Czech car maker’s successful product – the Skoda Yeti – has been voted best car in a Britain in a survey conducted by Auto Express magazine.

The magazine surveyed 30,000 drivers to reach to the conclusion.

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Skoda has been talking about a bigger SUV for ages but no concrete information was available till date. The company was claiming that it plans to split the Yeti bloodline into 2 SUV for the future. However, thanks to our friends at CarMagazine, we bring you some Juicy details of the new Skoda SUVs in the pipeline.

A bigger Yeti – Snowman/Grand Yeti

Skoda was constantly eying a full potential SUV for its brand. The current Yeti is more of a city-dwelling soft roader. The company has revealed that it will develop an SUV on the Tiguan platform and the SUV will be on sale in 2014.

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Skoda has confirmed that work is coming along nicely on a new SUV bigger than the Yeti but smaller than the VW Touareg and Audi Q5. Skoda chairman Winfried Vahland said a final decision on the model will be made next year as the Euro 6 norms come into effect, affecting the powertrains that will be chosen for the new model.

We had already reported that Skoda is in an expansionist mood, looking to diversify the Yeti into two vehicles, one smaller than the current model, and one bigger than it. A rendering of the VisionD-inspired, big Yeti is attached to the left.

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The Skoda Yeti, one we refer to as a go anywhere Skoda Superb, did not stir the market as one would have expected. It was an excellent product which suffered the onslaught of highly optimistic pricing.

Skoda tried to sell it as a niche product but failed to do so because the consumers did not see value in the proposition.

Taking some lessons from the Tata Aria debacle, Skoda has decided to induce oodles of value in the Yeti by stripping off the four wheel drive. Skoda has launched the Yeti 4×2 at a very tempting price of 13.20L (ex Maharashtra).

The 4×2 version of the Yeti will come in 2 variants Active & Ambition with the top model containing all the goodies such as ESP, Hill Hold control and Vario Flex.

The detailed pricing structure is as follows:

• Yeti Active 2.0 TDI CR 4X2 : 1,320,970 Ex Showroom Maharashtra & 1,346,159 Ex Showroom Delhi
• Yeti Ambition 2.0 TDI CR 4X2: 1,405,379 Ex Showroom Maharashtra & 1,432,195 Ex Showroom Delhi

The 4X2 Yeti is available in five colours –Aqua mist, brilliant silver, candy white, cappuccino beige, magic black, mato brown.

Due to the deletion of the transfer case and drive shafts, the mileage has also improved to 17.72 kmpl.

Do you think that the Skoda Yeti is now a high value proposition?

It’s yet another honour for the Yeti that’s a rage in European markets. Škoda’s acclaimed compact SUV has won the prestigious International Green Apple Environment Award. The distinction was extended by The Green Organization that promotes and rewards environmental behavior. This is the first year the judges chose to award new cars.

The Skoda Yeti E 2.0-liter TDI CR’s 52.3mpg brought home the award in the ‘Smaller SUV 4×4′ category. The judges described the victorious Yeti as “rare beast” and “SUV with luggage space.”

Back home Skoda’s cooking up a Yeti 4×2 variant to drive down the starting price. IAB readers have been informed that the Czech company is mulling two replacements for the Yeti once it reaches the end of its life.

The best car in the world (or SUV to be precise) as proclaimed by Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson has finally made it big. Skoda – the Czech Automotive Czar has announced that the 100,000th Skoda Yeti has just rolled off the assembly line today at its hometown in Kvasiny.

The Yeti is made in 3 factories across the globe –Kvasiny in Czech Republic, Aurangabad in India and Kaluga in Russia.

The Yeti is quite a popular compact SUV in the markets that it is sold. Overall, the demand has increased by 34 percent compared to a year ago. As a result, Skoda has introduced the Yeti in many variants such as 4×4 all-wheel drive, front wheel drive, even a tree-hugging Greenline version. The success has reportedly encouraged Skoda to develop a smaller Yeti.

Michael Oeljeklaus, the board member for the area of production -

The Yeti is a great success for SKODA. The fact that we have already cracked the threshold of 100,000 produced vehicles after only two years firmly emphasizes that.

At IAB, we quite like the Yeti for its niche segmentation and quirky styling. It is one of the few lifestyle products that has made us turn back and look. What are your thoughts about the Yeti?

Skoda India seems to be on a roll when it comes to making announcements of new products. Recently, the company officially went on the wires to confirm the sub-Fabia hatchback by 2013. Now, the company has also made it official that they are in the process of analyzing feasibility for a sub 10 lakh SUV.

Thomas Kuehl, Head of Sales and Marketing, Skoda Auto India -

The SUV segment is not growing as fast as was expected. We have to go down and are looking at a product priced below Rs 10 lakh. We are working to increase our presence in the SUV category

The Skoda Scout was recently caught testing near Chakan. Sure, it not really an SUV but more of a faux off roader. But still all hints point at the Scout because the only other options available to Skoda is Yeti which is already present in the market. Expecting the Skoda Yeti to shed more than 5 lakhs is utterly unreasonable.

The third and a very realistic possibility is AutoExpress’ report back in March on a smaller Yeti possibly on the Polo platform for a 2012 debut. If this is the true story, then expect an all- new product on the Polo or Fabia platform.

At the price below 10 lakhs, this mysterious Skoda SUV is expected to rival the Renault Duster and the Mahindra Scorpio. It will be interesting to see a new segment of baby SUVs perform.

Czech manufacturer Skoda is thrilled with the Yeti – a smash hit across the globe, but not so in India. Spotting a Yeti is a difficult exercise but this isn’t the case in Britain or Europe. The vehicle’s popularity is peaking prompting Skoda to make mini and maxi spin offs. Dr Eckhard Scholz, Skoda board member in charge of technical development – In the future, I think there’s enough space  [ Read More ]