Yeti confirmed for Oz

Skoda's new Superb Wagon was launched in the Australian marketplace last week, but the Czech car maker isn't done with new model introductions just yet.

Hoping to grow sales over the next few years and attract new customers to the fold, the brand will launch two key new models in the next 18 months, starting with a quirky compact SUV, the Yeti (first image) and then the Fabia light car.

"Yeti has now been confirmed to our dealers, and we're now working through homologating the vehicle for Australia to set a launch date," Matthew Wiesner, head of Skoda Australia told the Carsales Network.

"I'd say quarter one, or quarter two 2011 [for the Australian launch of the Yeti]. The Yeti has proved very popular in the EU, so demand is strong and this will play a part in when we can bring it to Australia."

Mr Wiesner explained that the Czech-made Yeti will be offered in Australia from under $30,000. He confirmed to the Carsales Network that Australians would first see the 2WD 1.2-litre 77TSI models, offered in both six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG guises, and also the AWD 2.0-litre 103TDI models. "We'll add a petrol engine to the AWD range down the track," added Wiesner.

The Skoda Australia chief also stated that the Yeti is "...arguably the most important model for us," because it will allow the Czech brand to target a much younger demographic. "Yeti lets us head off in a new direction -- we can talk to new customers with this vehicle and it will deliver similar, if not more sales than Octavia," said Wiesner. The Octavia is currently Skoda Australia's best selling model.

The next new model on Skoda Australia's hit list after the Yeti is the Fabia (second image), a compact car roughly the size of a Ford Fiesta. "With Yeti confirmed for Australia, the focus is now on Fabia," Wiesner explained.

Based on the Mk 5 VW Polo platform, Skoda Australia is hoping to import the current generation Fabia into the country. "Originally we thought we could only do the [high performance] Fabia RS, but we're now looking at the whole range because of the current exchange rate benefits with the Euro.

"The timing is good with currency conversions to the EU," said Wiesner, "But timing is hard to nail down, it's too early to tell. The earliest possible time [for Fabia launch in Australia] is late 2011."

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