Came across this short blog; the writer speculating whether the Yeti might be launched in the U.S. as a VW!!!

Reader Sighting: 2009 ?koda Yeti Spotted on U.S. Soil | Automotive News Blog at CARandDRIVER.com - Car News Resource

Booo keep it as a Skoda!!!

Booo keep it as a Skoda!!!

Couldn't agree more

Came across this short blog; the writer speculating whether the Yeti might be launched in the U.S. as a VW!!!

More chance of pigs flying!

Well they do in the states...

I don't really see how it could slot in below the Tiguan, as surely it is a Tiguan with a Skoda badge, no?

Even American's would see through that in a trice and Tiguan sales/production would stop.

I don't really see how it could slot in below the Tiguan, as surely it is a Tiguan with a Skoda badge, no?

Even American's would see through that in a trice and Tiguan sales/production would stop.

NO! Yeti is NOT a Tiguan with a Skoda badge.:eek: There is a degree of commonality in chassis and drivetrain but that's about where it stops.

Yeti is smaller at 4.25m as opposed to Tiguan at 4.43m. Yeti's rear seats slide, fold, flip and are removable; Tiguan's only slide and fold.

Shall I go on?

Surely it was just out there on 'hot climate' tests like most manufacturers do?

NO! Yeti is NOT a Tiguan with a Skoda badge.:eek: There is a degree of commonality in chassis and drivetrain but that's about where it stops.

Yeti is smaller at 4.25m as opposed to Tiguan at 4.43m. Yeti's rear seats slide, fold, flip and are removable; Tiguan's only slide and fold.

Shall I go on?

Well, you could, but what would be the point except to prove how big your Anorak is?

They are, to all intents and purposes the same car. The physical content that is identical is approaching 90%. One has longer bodywork and has non-removeable seats but the actual points of differentiation are painfully small.

If they both had a VW badge on and the Czech-built one was significantly cheaper, you wouldn't buy a Tiguan, would you? And that was my original point.

VAG have made a good business out of taking effectively the same product and sticking 4 different badges on it and then selling it to 4 different markets. The USA isn't looking for a Czech budget brand product that would require a whole new dealer network to support. Or a sporty Spanish brand they've never heard of. So the journalist that wrote the story spiced it up a bit for his US readers - "This isn't another one of those 'Cars you can't buy in the USA but wish you could stories! - You may get this one with a VW badge on it'".

Edited 1 July, 200917 yr by wja96

Surely it was just out there on 'hot climate' tests like most manufacturers do?

Exactly.

Well, you could, but what would be the point except to prove how big your Anorak is?

They are, to all intents and purposes the same car. The physical content that is identical is approaching 90%. One has longer bodywork and has non-removeable seats but the actual points of differentiation are painfully small.

??? The body is different, the interior is different, the engine lineup is different and Skoda said they didn't use exactly the same platform as the Tiguan as it was too expensive. As I understand it, the off-road electronics are different too, so how is that 90% the same?

Difficult question to answer the difference between the Tiguan and the Yeti. VW unlike Skoda give less away in their literature. Therefore you have to rely on the press, where a number of articles suggest they are both Golf/Octavia platform derived and use a similar drive train.

Regard off-road, both offer an option of an enhanced ESP system designed to give that all important hill descent capability. The Tiguan unlike the Yeti has an 'Escape' model specifically tailored to the more off-road minded (additional underside protection and altered front end to increase approach angle).

The Yeti as I understand has off-road built into its design and is likely to offer the 'off-road ' ESP on the top spec model but still unsure if it will be on the options list for the lower end models.

So as to exactly what Skoda meant by the Tiguan being too expensive only they have the answer. At a wild guess would be a reworking of the whole Tiguan package, which might not have met their goal in the end anyway.

Personally I think (albeit yet to see it in the metal), they have come up with a very clever package which will meet the needs of a variety of different people. The only thing they need now is a clever adds campaign to sell it but maybe not quite as extreme as Ford sending 4x4 Mondeos into Siberia.

The one thing that I do find puzzling is the idea that the FWD model will bee the biggest seller, yet the range available at this stage is surely more aimed at the 4x4 market.

??? The body is different, the interior is different, the engine lineup is different and Skoda said they didn't use exactly the same platform as the Tiguan as it was too expensive. As I understand it, the off-road electronics are different too, so how is that 90% the same?

The bodywork, interior and seats comprise a very small percentage of the number of parts in a car. The engines are the same VAG engines. To say the line-up is different is a bit disingenuous. If it's a 140bhp CR TDI with a DPF then it's the same one they all use, same for petrols. Which engine range they get in the States will be determined by what the customers will buy, so that'll just be the petrols then. The gearbox and 4WD system is essentially identical and if past VAG electronics are anything to go by then all you'll need to get Yeti electronics on a Tiguan is a copy of VCDS.

And you've missed the spirit of the post - why would anyone buy a Tiguan if they could get a Yeti woth a VW badge on it? That's why they won't sell it in the US.

Agree wth most comments, It wont be for sale in America unless Skoda dealerships open.

Given the number of GM & Chrysler dealerships closing, there would be plenty of choice of ready built empty car showrooms to take up .

Although how is the Tiguan selling in the US, given the loss of love with the huge gas guzzlers, now could be a good time to introduce the Yeti / Roomster.