Skoda to bring out an all-new SUV called Snowman

Skoda is planning to introduce and all-new SUV called Snowman by the end of next year. The mid-size SUV will be rolled out into their global showrooms, in 2016.The Skoda Snowman will be closely related to the Volkswagen CrossBlue concept which is also set to be launched in left-hand-drive markets next year.

Details of the Skoda Snowman are scarce right now, but reports suggest that the car will be based on Volkswagen group’s MQB architecture. The car will be a size larger than the Volkswagen Tiguan and will be available as a five-seater or a seven-seater.  Skoda will offer the car in both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions.  The Snowman will be designed along Skoda’s evolving design language, which was previewed in their concept cars- the Vision C and the Vision D.

The Snowman will be built at the Skoda’s production facility in Kvasiny, Czech Republic which currently manufactures the Roomster, Yeti and the Superb. Rumours indicate that the Snowman would be the flagship SUV of the Czech company. Skoda seems to think that the car will sell only in limited numbers and reports suggest that a Seat version of the Snowman will be built on the same assembly line, to share costs.

Skoda cars have been selling quite well in its global markets, which might have given Volkswagen the courage to add a new car to the Czech car maker’s lineup. Skoda’s experiment with the Yeti, in India, hasn’t been quite successful. The pricing of the crossover puts it in a confusing territory where it doesn’t actually compete with any other SUV. But despite the lack of competition, the Yeti hasn’t attracted many buyers. If Skoda were to bring the Snowman to India, it will be necessary for them to position it properly in the market. A proper pricing strategy coupled with Skoda’s new design strategy should make the car one attractive proposition.