Skoda Snowman spotted testing in the Alps

Skoda’s upcoming seven-seater SUV, the Snowman, has been photographed undergoing altitude testing in the Alps. Internally called A-Plus-SUV, the Snowman will be the most expensive car in Skoda’s line-up and will compete with other premium SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Renault Koleos and the Chevrolet Captiva.

Aesthetically, the Snowman has been designed along the lines of its recent concept cars like the Vision C, though the overall structure makes it looks just like a stretched version of the Yeti. The Snowman will be based on a stretched version of the MQB modular platform, which will also be used in the new Volkswagen Tiguan SUV. It will be available in both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions, while the powertrain options will include two petrol and two diesel engines.

Though its sales numbers in India might not reflect this, the new Yeti has been quite a big hit in the Czech manufacturer’s global markets. Skoda will aim to replicate this success story with the Snowman, by positioning it above Yeti in the rapidly growing mid-size seven-seater SUV segment. The Snowman is expected to be unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, as a 2017 model.