Skoda is gearing up for a period of unprecedented change, as it plans to double sales to 1.5 million by 2018. And CAR’s uncovered plans to replace today’s Roomster and Yeti with four new models.
The 4214mm-long Skoda Roomster and 4223mm Skoda Yeti are bafflingly close in size – just 9mm separates them on the tape measure. The Czechs plan to counter that with a range of new people carriers and sports utility vehicles planned for their successors.
The plan for the new Skoda Roomster
The Roomster will be replaced by two minivans, one near Touran-size and the other one Sharan XXL-size. We don’t have any artist’s impressions, but you can see from the Roomster Mk1’s design sketches the sort of direction they could pursue.
Both will be enabled by Volkswagen group architectures, so expect Touran and Sharan mechanical packages underneath and no-nonsense functional styling outside.
The first compact Roomster spin-off is due in 2014, the larger MPV in 2016.
And what are they meddling with the Yeti for? I thought that’d been a success?
It has been a success, scooping several awards and nudging into CAR’s top 10 cars of the year. But Skoda is in expansionist mood and sees space for two new SUVs for the next generation (after a 2012 facelift for today’s Yeti).
So the same principle will be applied to the Yeti Mk2, which becomes two SUVs: one Tiguan-sized (2015) and one seven-seater Passat-size 4×4 (due 2016). Both will be available with Greenline thinking, so expect the majority of sales to be two-wheel drive.
Skoda is now in charge of designing and building low-cost powertrains for the entire VW group, so expect more clever engine tech from Mlada Boleslav.
So Skoda’s on a roll?
Most certainly. In the UK it flogged 41,000 cars, up 11% and accounting for a 2% slice of the car market here. But the momentum is continuing into 2011.
From January-September 2011 it registered the following sales globally:
Fabia: 201,900 vehicles (+19%)
Octavia: 283,900 vehicles (+20%)
Superb: 90,600 vehicles (+24%)
Yeti: 50,800 vehicles (+30%)
Roomster: 27,000 vehicles (+11%)
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