Skoda Yeti 2011 News

Czech brand Skoda and British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have revealed which models will be recalled as part of the wide-spread mandatory Takata airbag call back.

US owners of VW cars with diesel engines that can cheat emissions tests have already been given $500, but local owners still have no compensation.

Three weeks after the global scandal broke, Australian owners of VW diesel cars finally know if their car is affected or not.

Do I need a 4WD? Probably not. An AWD? Maybe. If so, would I spend about $42,000 - including taxes and charges - to get a Skoda Yeti into my garage at home? And that’s the stumbling block.I’m 150km out of Alice Springs at a place called Boggy Hole - no joke - along with 22 other motoring writers from Australian publications. The 24th missed the plane.The Yeti 103TDI AWD has made it the 30-odd kilometres from the highway, along a thin gravel ribbon visited by wild horses, past a solitary house in the middle of nowhere that appears to be a used car lot for damaged vehicle, and down onto the river bed. There’s 250mm diameter rocks of all colours, smaller pebbles, lots of river sand and pockets of the fine talc-like sand that gets caught in the hollows of tree trunks and invites 4WDs in to play. There is the occasional waterhole and alternating sections of rocks and soft sand, marked by the tracks of dozens of vehicles before.Skoda enlisted a team of experts to set up 24 tents, arrange a campsite fire and dining tables, brought in chefs with tall white hats that looked out of place against the rugged walls of the gorges behind us, and even had an entertaining expert who spoke of the region. For outsiders, it’s an odd experience. For motoring writers, it’s a pleasant divergence before the chat (and varying points of view) start about the test vehicle - the one we’re all here to write about.It’s warm - about 30C - with 35C on the cards. Through this harsh land comes the 12 Yetis along with a support crew in three Volkswagen Amaroks loaded with recovery gear. That should have been the first hint.Some writers didn’t have much of a clue about driving a small AWD - with no low range gearbox, low-profile tyres and a paltry 180mm ground clearance - in sand. They were the first to get stuck.I only participated in two recoveries and it’s not a lot of fun. Fun is having a cold drink in a deck chair at the end of the day. Fun is laughter around the campfire after the sun goes home.Pushing and digging out a SUV isn’t fun and that’s when it hit me that I don’t want to do this. So for me, if I bought a Yeti, I’d buy the cheaper 2WD and save about $9000. I wouldn’t go off the road but I would be perfectly hapy with the amazing flexibility and the fuel-efficient buzz of the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine.Sometimes we can get too caught up in the imaginary adventure.

The 2.7-litre, twin-turbo V6 Ford/PSA engine - previously deployed in models as diverse as the Jaguar XF and Citroen's C5 - brings to this hitherto thirsty, petrol-only range the low-end torque and economy that makes diesel the power source of choice for buyers of bigger SUVs. Emissions will be cut by as much as 25 per cent compared with the Territory's venerable naturally aspirated in-line petrol six, while output should be in the vicinity of 150kW and 440Nm: just what the two-tonne Strayan SUV needs. New SUVs are thick on the ground in 2011, but the fairest of them all is the Range Rover Evoque, which brings designer desirability and - at little more than $50K - relative affordability to the segment.  Range Rover's first foray into the domain of the Q5s and X3s of this world will bring Land Rover's luxury badge within reach of people who don't necessarily use them to form convoys outside private schools. It's the smallest, lightest Rangie ever, and the leanest version emits about 130g of CO2 per kilometre.  Most of all, Gerry McGovern's sublime, compact design - especially in coupe format - will change the way you look at SUVs. Roll on September. On a softer note, compact SUVs - prestige ones, in particular - have been the growth segment of the past few years.  This year brings an especially intriguing contrast: two Volkswagen Group models, both with Tiguan underpinnings and most likely highly similar drivetrains, one built in Spain, the other in the Czech Republic. The former is Audi's Q3, the latter Skoda's Yeti. The Audi will carry a premium price tag; the Skoda won't. Compare and contrast.  In tougher terrain, the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee lobs later this month with its newly acquired monocoque chassis, reportedly tarted-up interior and a trio of V engines; a new 209kW 3.6-litre petrol V6; a 5.7-litre Hemi petrol V8; and a three-litre CRDi turbo-diesel six. The Cherokee's Patriot and Wrangler stablemates have also been updated. Just as ballsy (more so, even) is Nissan's Pathfinder Ti 550, the most powerful version to date, with its stump-pullin' three-litre turbo-diesel V6. If the sun is temporarily eclipsed in June, it's probably due to the vastness of the latest Volkswagen Touareg with its new range of six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and a platform shared with the exxier likes of Audi's Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne. There can be few left in this global village who haven't been exposed to pre-launch publicity for the Toyota FJ Cruiser.  This four-year-old, retro-designed device finally gets here in March, lugged along by the four-litre V6 petrol engine from the 150 Series Prado. Claimed outputs are 200kW and 380Nm.  If you must have one, that blue seems the least ostentatious colour.

Confirmation was unavailable as we went to print but Skoda has confirmed the versatile and internationally acclaimed SUV is on its way to Skoda showrooms here.  But Skoda has so far declined to commit to timing, beyond saying ‘later this year’ – it could mean October.The Motor Show could be an ideal time to check out what is sure to be one of the coolest and most distinct new entrants among the SUV set over coming months. The vehicle has snared a host of overseas awards including Top Gear’s Family Car of the Year for 2009 and Auto Express’s Car of the Year award this year.Given Australia’s penchant for finding homes for SUV’s this capable entrant is almost certain to succeed here. In Europe the Yeti offers two petrol engines, a hi-tech 1.2-litre with 77kW and a 1.8-litre with 118kW plus 2.0-litre turbodiesel power.  The 1.2-litre and the entry-level diesel is front-wheel-drive only, but the remainder of the range offers AWD capability, if not sheer all-terrain ability. Price? Still anyone’s guess, but likely to kick off in 2WD trim under $30,000.

The company last week confirmed the Yeti off-roader will hit local showrooms early next year. The much-needed compact off-roader will be available in both front and all-wheel drive with a range of petrol and turbo-diesel engines. Skoda Australia boss, Matthew Wiesner, says the wagon, which shares its hardware with the Volkswagen Tiguan, will be a critical part of the local operation's lineup and help drive more sales. "It will attract a younger audience to the brand," he says. "There's no doubt the compact off-roader segment is on fire and the Yeti will give us an opportunity to get into that." Wiesner also believes it will help shed more light on the Czech carmaker's other off-roader, the Octavia Scout. From October the Scout gets a dual clutch transmission to supplement the current six-speed manual. "I think it will be a nice little surprise package," Wiesner says. He expects that by adding a DSG Scout sales will lift considerably. The Subaru Outback rival currently gets by with a six-speed manual gearbox but with most off-roader sales automatics it has struggled against its opposition. Wiesner expects between 80 and 90 per cent of Scout buyers to tick the DSG option. The arrival of the Yeti and Scout DSG will also coincide with a lift in Skoda servicing centres across the country. At present there are 22 dealers nationally but the company is adding more specific service and after-sales centres in regional and rural areas to give the brand a solid national coverage. Apart from the Yeti, Skoda will add an entry 90kW TSI Octavia to the lineup in a few months. Skoda Australia is forecasting a lift in sales of up to 40 per cent this year, on the back of the arrival of the Superb wagon, Octavia update and addition of a DSG on the Scout. The company has sold 340 vehicles so far this year with the main seller being the Octavia. Despite its low base sales are up 27 per cent this year.

But it's not a Himalayan bigfoot. Yeti is the name for Skoda's first serious compact SUV and it was targeted at the Frankfurt Motor Show as the most important model yet for the Czech brand as it looks to build a serious following down under."This is exactly the car we need to break through with younger, funky buyers. It's going to give us a point of difference," says the head of Skoda in Australia, Matthew Weisner. "This is the one I think will take us to another level.It's even more important than Octavia." The Yeti only hit the scene in Europe in August and that means a slight delay for Australia while the paperwork and pricing is done, but it will land next year and the starting price will be below $30,000.Its obvious rivals are the Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan, but it will come with both front and all-wheel drive, as well as with some serious off-road ability. "We would like to think we can get it here for the second half of 2010.But we are still finalising the detail on homologation," Weisner says. "The basic mechanical package is similar to the Octavia, but running the 4Motion system. “And the Skoda engineers have done their own work to ensure it is a much better off-roader than you would normally expect in a compact SUV. “That's its point of difference."Skoda is deliberately targeting a front-drive Yeti as a price leader, although it plans for a spread of models including petrol and diesel engines, manual and DSG gearboxes. "We've got to be around the Volkswagen Tiguan from four-wheel drive point of view, and for the two-wheel drive car it has to be under $30,000. And we equip cars well, and we wouldn't change that, so we'd hold the value propostion."Weisner is confident the Yeti will be an easier sell than the baby Roomster, which has radical looks but is hard to sell in Australia's compact class. "If you look at it, Yeti is a fairly funky but typical compact SUV. Roomster is quite a radical sort of design, and it's not easy to position in Australia," he says."Yeti will sit perfectly comfortably in that growing compact SUV segment. And that's now stronger than the medium segment." Weisner believes the Yeti could eventually become Skoda's best seller, even bettering the Octavia in showrooms."We'll probably do around 1000 Octavias this year. I think it will give a similar or greater contribution. It will give us a big lift in a relatively short period of time," he says. "If we can do 1400 or 1500 cars in total this year, with the Superb now in the range, Yeti will make a hell of a difference to our total sales."

However, Skoda Australia is confident the Volkswagen Tiguan-based off-roader will be a starter and potential best-seller for the brand. Volkswagen Group Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling, says VW Group Australia executives have assessed the car and loved it. But all he can say is that it is "under consideration at the moment". "It comes down to whether we can get it in and for the right price," Gehling says. "There is a lot of work to be done." Gehling believes the off-roader could be the one car that has a chance to propel Skoda Australia into the mainstream and lift the brand's awareness among buyers. The Czech brand is still trying to build momentum locally. It was relaunched at the end of 2007 into a strong market but since then the new car market has collapsed. However, with the refreshed Octavia petrol and TDI range on sale and the RS performance sedan and wagon and the Scout crossover due later this year, the company is planning for better times. If, and when the Yeti arrives, Gehling does not think it will compete or take sales from the competent Scout. "They are essentially two distinct cars," he says. Skoda's European executives say the Yeti would be a good fit for Australia. They believe that it could undercut the Tiguan on price, like it will do in Europe when the off-roader goes on sale in a few months. The Yeti will be available in Europe with both all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive with the opener being a 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine driving the front wheels. Buyers will also have a choice of another 1.8-litre TSI petrol engine, as well as three turbo-diesels of 81kW, 103kW and 125kW. The 81kW will be available with either front or all wheel drive, while the rest of the TDIs will use the same Haldex all-wheel drive system shared with Tiguan, which automatically engages when needed. The compact off-roader is 4200mm long a features distinctive styling. The wagon also has 1760 litres of luggage space with the rear seats removed. As it is based on the Tiguan, the Yeti is expected to handle well and cope with moderate off-roading. Momentum is building for the car across Europe and it has already received some favourable reviews. Germany's Autobild magazine has even voted the Yeti ahead of the Tiguan in a recent test of five Volkswagen cars against five Skodas.

Skoda unveiled the Tiguan-based Yeti compact SUV and a pair of new and updated Fabia models, the soft-road Scout and the performance RS at this week's Geneva motor show ... and all are on the Australian importer's wish list. “The Scout — and the RS — are part of the ongoing Fabia discussion,” Skoda Australia boss Matthew Wiesner says. “We have been working on it for a while but the exchange rate dive didn't do us any favours and while it is getting closer it is not easy.” While the pricing struggle has been painful, Wiesener can see a silver lining with a freshen of the range likely to correspond with any decision to import into Australia. “Realistically, there is a facelift due for Fabia next year and that will provide a good opportunity for us to introduce the car, and not just the entry hatch but the full range.” Wiesner says the addition of Fabia and Yeti to the Australian Skoda line-up will have the effect of adding emotion to the brand and better targeting the younger buyers the Czech brand is trying to reach. “These models, particularly the Fabia RS and Yeti will do a lot for the brand. The RS has real performance credentials and the Yeti is a perfect example of what the brand is all about —making cars that offer a decent interior size without being too onerous in their presence on the roads.” The current Skoda Australia garage consists of the Roomster, the Octavia range including a scout and RS model, and the recently launched Superb. “When you look at it there is plenty of room to add the Fabia range and the Yeti,” Wiesner says. Based on VW's Tiguan compact SUV platform, the Yeti is a high-riding urban softroader with the requisite plastic cladding and sculpted wheel arches giving it a look of civil toughness. At 4.2 metres the Yeti is not much bigger than a hatch and given the platform's VW Golf origins that is not in the least surprising. However, inside the car does a good impression of an East-European Tardis with generous passenger room front and rear albeit at the cost of any genuine luggage space. If you don't need the rear seats they can be removed and that will boost load carrying capacity to a very useful 1760 litres. Yeti will be available, in Europe at least, in both front- and all-wheel drive coupled to a pair of petrol engines (1.2-litre TSI and 1.8-litre TSI) and three tuning levels of a 2.0-litre turbo diesel.