FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Updated Skoda Yeti

Skoda has promised to launch eight new or revised models this year, plus additional models by 2015, and this midlife makeover for the Yeti is next cab off the Volkswagen-owned Czech brand’s rank.

The facelift compact SUV will make its world debut at next month’s Frankfurt motor show, before going on sale in Europe by the end of this year and Down Under by mid-2014.

By then, Skoda Australia will have launched the third-generation Octavia sedan and wagon (November), the new Octavia RS and all-new Rapid Spaceback (both early next year).

Biggest Yeti news is the availability of two distinctly different model variants for the first time – one directed at city dwellers, the other for outdoor types.

Both versions feature new front-end designs, with a new bumper, grille and sharper rectangular headlights inspired by the Rapid and Octavia replacing the current model’s twin-beam headlight design.

At the rear, there are new C-shaped tail-lights with smoked lenses and optional LED elements, plus a revised tailgate with a full-width grab-handle above two outboard “cubist triangular” elements.

Naturally, the MY14 Yeti wears Skoda’s new corporate logo, while the interior receives a similarly light spruce-up, including no less than seven variations of the car-maker’s new three-spoke steering wheel, new seat trims and fresh dashboard inserts.

There is also more technology – including the first-time option of a reversing camera, automatic parking system, automatic locking/starting and bi-Xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights – plus four ‘simply clever’ new interior features.

They include a new double-sided boot floor covering, a detachable LED light in the boot and a vest holder under the driver's seat (all from the Rapid), plus a waste container in the side door, while there are four new alloy wheel designs and four new metallic paint colours (‘Moon-White’, ‘Jungle-Green’, ‘Metal-Grey’ and ‘Magnetic-Brown’).

Unique carryover features include the Yeti’s VarioFlex rear seat system, enabling the three rear seats to be individually folded or removed, a flat-folding front passenger seat, folding tables on the front seatbacks, a class-leading 1027mm of headroom and total cargo capacity of 1760 litres.

Differentiating the two model derivatives are subtle front and rear styling elements including bumpers, while the underbody guards, side mouldings and door sills are body-coloured on the city version and matt-black on the off-road version.

Specifications are yet to be confirmed for Australia, where just three Yeti variants are currently available, opening with the front-drive 1.2-litre turbo-petrol 77TSI (from $26,290) and including the mid-range AWD 1.8-litre petrol 112TSI (from $32,990) and the flagship AWD 2.0-litre turbo-diesel 103TDI (from $35,690) – all with six-speed manual and twin-clutch automatic transmissions.

In Europe, however, no fewer than seven turbocharged, direct-injection engines will be offered, including a 125kW 2.0-litre TDI with fifth-generation Haldex AWD system and a 77kW 1.6-litre TDI 2WD manual model that consumes just 4.6L/100km with the aid of idle-stop and brake energy recovery systems.

All Yetis offer 180mm of ground clearance and a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with some models fitted with up to nine airbags.

Skoda says the Yeti continues to be a key part of its goal to sell at least 1.5 million vehicles annually by 2018. Since its launch in 2009, it has sold more than 263,200 examples globally, including 87,400 last year – up more than 24 per cent on 2011.

In Australia, just over 2000 Yetis have found homes to July this year – down more than 14 per cent on the same period in 2012.

The Yeti continues to be built at Kvasiny in the Czech Republic, Nizhny Novgorod in Russia and, by the end of this year, Shanghai in China.

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