AIMS: Yeti surprise at Skoda

Skoda's Yeti was a surprise visitor to Sydney. Joining the burgeoning compact SUV segment, the versatile five-door will be offered in at least two variants when it hits Skoda showrooms in the middle of 2011.

Petrol and diesel powertrains will be available on debut Down Under. A 77 TSI petrol model will be offered in front-wheel drive while the turbodiesel 103 TDI gets a version of Volkswagen Group's 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. Both models feature DSG dual-clutch automated gearboxes.

Higher performance petrol versions of the Tiguan-based vehicle may be offered later in 2011 depending on local demand.

Skoda Australia boss Matthew Wiesner said pricing and specification of the Yeti would not be confirmed until closer to launch. Nonetheless, he provides some strong clues to the brand's pricing strategy.

"If you look at where the petrol all-wheel drive versions of the Japanese brands are clustering that will give you some idea of where we'd like to be [with the 77 TSI]," Wiesner told the Carsales Network.

"The same goes for the diesel -- there's a pretty clear entry point for compact softroaders with all-wheel drive and turbodiesel powertrains. We don't want to be away from that main market entry point."

In practical terms the Skoda bosses hints place the 77 TSI at under $30,000 -- just. The turbodiesel all-wheel drive is likely to be priced north of $35,000. Equipment levels should be a match for similarly engined vehicles in Skoda's Octavia range, though added value will be delivered via the Yeti's more versatile rear-seat system. Similar to the system that debuted in the Roomster, it allows myriad combinations of seating and luggage space thanks to three individually adjustable rear seat segments.

Skoda comes to Sydney after a record September. With just under 1200 units year to date 2010, the brand is almost 50 per cent up on the same period in 2009.

"We seem to have reached a level of awareness that is now translating into sales. The launch of Superb and especially Superb wagon has been key and has had a rub off on our other models. We're now in the position of starting to have to find more production [at the factory]," Wiesner stated.

The arrival of an automatic version of Octavia Scout in January will be a fillip for the brand, Wiesner contends. Superb is key but Yeti, however, will be the "gamechanger" he says.

"Superb has already done a lot for us... This [Yeti] will do more," he opined.

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