Yeti SUV comes in from the cold

Our spy photographers always manage to be in the right place at the right time, but they’ve surpassed themselves with these pictures – they’ve managed to catch a Yeti in the snow!

This is Skoda’s first-ever 4x4, which has been snapped undergoing final cold weather testing ahead of its launch in the UK later this year. The Yeti makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week, and takes Skoda into a totally new sector of the market. It builds on the success of the firm’s tough 2WD Scout-badged models and will go up against compct SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Kuga.

However, it’s another rival, the VW Tiguan, with which the Yeti has most in common, as it shares a modified platform with the Golf-based off-roader. The Skoda will offer a choice of two or four-wheel-drive transmissions while engine options will include 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrols plus 1.9 and 2.0-litre diesels.

As you can see from these spy shots, the Yeti shares the same boxy shape as the original 2004 Geneva show concept, but adds a pair of rear doors for extra practicality. Expect the chunky new model to be priced cheaper than most of its rivals. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to see pictures of the Yeti at Geneva.