Skoda Yeti’s success is persuading the top management of the Cech brand to broaden their offer in the SUV segment. According to Auto Bild, it is confirmed that two more models will enter the market by the end of 2016: a 4.3 meters long model will replace the Yeti while an older sister measuring 4.6 meters in length - based on VW Tiguan - will also join the fold, and will probably be able to accommodate up to 7 people in its cabin. Rumor has it that both cars will be heavily inspired by the design of the Mission L Concept - recently showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show - and that their front end will become a signature feature for most future Skoda cars.

This new policy toward the SUV market alongside the introduction of brand new versions of both Fabia and Octavia models should allow the Cech brand to achieve the 500,000 units sold target in 2018, as estimated by the VAG Group’s global strategy plan. Skoda is actually expanding its customer base by entering new segments of the market with such models as the Up!-derived Citigo and a new MPV based on VW Sharan. Also a saloon car called Rapid is recently entered into production in India, but it is destined to extra-European markets only.

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Volkswagen has announced that il be showing 8 world premieres at the next IAA in Frankfurt. The most important premiere will probably be the new VW Tiguan, the mid-size SUV. The Tiguan will be equipped with a new 1.4-liter Twin Charger engine (150 ps), a 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged engine (200 ps) and two new 2.0 liter Common-Rail turbo-charged engines, with respectively 140 and 170 ps. The new diesel engine will both comply with the new Euro 5 emission regulations.

VW will also show a “non convenzional” prototype, of which they say: “The heart of this sensationally flexible City Expert will beat where the flat-four boxer engine once did in the Beatle”. The fact that the press release talks about a “heart” and not an engine makes one think that it’ll be something different from a normal internal combustion engine.

Last but not least, the BlueMotion model offensive, with 6 world premieres. The “low-emissions, low fuel consumption” denoted by the BlueMotion range will thus grow from two to eight models, to which another one will be added during 2008.

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