While most car manufacturers are busy revealing outlandish new car concepts at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Skoda has taken an altogether more sensible approach, showing off updated versions of its Yeti alongside a hatchback-cum-mini-estate version of the Rapid, known as the Rapid Spaceback.
The Rapid Spaceback is just that – a Rapid with plenty of space in the back, although not as much as you might expect. Skoda promises class-leading amounts of rear knee and headroom, and while its 415-litre boot (expandable to 1,380 litres) is larger than of most compact hatchbacks, the standard Rapid saloon offers considerably more — 550 litres with the seats up and 1,490 when folded flat.
That said, The Rapid Spaceback promises clever use of space, with a dual-level boot floor, ice scraper inside the fuel cap and plenty of holders, nets and hooks scattered around the interior.
Skoda promises four petrol and two diesel engines at launch, including a GreenLine version with CO2 emissions of 99g/km.
New Yeti and Yeti Outdoor
The new Skoda Yeti, meanwhile, boasts a ‘dramatic’ (read: angry) new look that ditches the cutesy front end of the previous car. The entire front end is now littered with aggressive edges and creases that make the car look as if it’s annoyed with something. The circular, high-mounted fog lights meanwhile, have been dropped for a rectangular set nestled in the bumper and its front vents have been enlarged.
A new version of the Yeti, the Yeti Outdoor, has also been announced. While the standard Yeti is designed ostensibly for city life, with body-coloured bumpers, side protective mouldings and rear panels that give it a smooth, sleek appearance, the Yeti Outdoor is clad with black plastic mouldings that give it a more rugged image.
Expect six engines to be available, plus the choice of two- or four-wheel-drive. We’ve no word on prices or availability, but we’ll keep update you as soon as Skoda updates us.
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