Skoda announces Tiguan-based Karoq SUV
28 April
Skoda has revealed its successor to its Yeti crossover, with a radical redesign taking inspiration from the Kodak SUV.
Karoq, a name derived from an indigenous tribe who live off the coast of Alaska, will share the same MQB production platform as the Audi Q3 and Volkswagen Tiguan and has been dramatically redesigned over the Yeti it replaces.
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Despite the design, it is noticeably more compact than the Kodiaq, with a significantly shorter overhang at the rear, meaning the Karoq comes with a 521-litre boot - around 109-litres less than the seven-seat variant of the Kodiaq.
It will be available with five turbocharged engines, says Autocar,"four of which are new to Skoda", with petrol units including "an entry-level 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder" and a "1.5-litre TSI with 148bhp and 184lb-ft" of torque.
Those looking for a diesel unit can choose between a 1.6-litre TDI and a "2.0-litre TDI that outputs 187bhp and 295lb-ft" of torque, adds the magazine. There's also a more fuel-efficient 2.0-litre TDI engine which appears in other models in Skoda's range.
The Karoq has "been through a meticulous development process to ensure it's ready for mass production", says AutoExpress. Prototype vehicles have "covered around 1.2 million miles collectively".
There's no word on a release date yet, but the mag expects the Karoq to launch in "late 2017" and cost £17,000 - making it nearly £4,000 cheaper than its larger Kodiaq sibling.
