Skoda Yeti far from abominable

Skoda used the Geneva motor show -- and a man in a fluffy white abominable snowman suit -- to confirm its worst kept secret… Its Yeti softroader, first displaying in concept form way back in 2005, is finally a production reality.

The carmaker was short on all but the most basic specifications on its newest offering but confirmed the Yeti will go on sale in Europe later this year.

As we wrote a few weeks ago (more here), Skoda Australia is eager to add the Yeti to the local line-up. It could arrive as early as Q1 of 2010.

At Geneva, Skoda announced the Yeti's base powerplant will be the 1.2-litre TSI four-cylinder also featured in the new Volkswagen Polo. The engine produces 78kW and will drive a front-wheel drive only version of the five-door. The only other petrol option for the Yeti is the significantly more muscular 118kW 1.8-litre TSI -- available in four-wheel drive only.

There will be three versions of the Volkswagen Group's excellent new common rail 2.0-litre TDI turbodiesel on offer, however. An 81kW variant is available with either front or all-wheel drive, while the 103kW and 125kW examples are both mated with four-wheel-drive systems.

But the biggest mystery at this point surrounds transmissions, with Skoda's European announcement giving away no information about potential gearboxes. VW Group's double-clutch DSG unit is the most likely option, but European sources suggest a CVT transmission may get the nod. However, the Yeti is based on the same platform as the popular Volkswagen Tiguan -- which uses manual and epicyclic automatic trannies currently.

What versions we'll get locally is up in the air. Skoda Australia chief, Matthew Wiesner, is set to meet with the Czech brand's executives in the coming months to finalise the Australian model range and specifications.

"Definitely diesel," Wiesner told the Carsales Network. "[But] If we can get the right petrol drivetrain combination that would be good too."

He also admitted securing both two and four-wheel drive models was on the agenda.

"There is certainly an argument to do both," he said.

According to Weisner, the softroader's designer team focused on "making clever use of space inside the cabin".

In turn, the firm is promising a spacious interior that defies its short 4.2m-long overall length. With the rear seats folded the Yeti has a luggage capacity of 1760-litres.

Weisner is hopeful that the car can help attract younger buyers to the Skoda brand -- a nameplate that is still in the early stages of establishing itself in the Australian market.

"It would be a welcome addition to the compact SUV segment for us," he said.