Skoda confirms Kodiaq as name of large SUV
Skoda has announced that its new large SUV – to be launched at the end of this year – will be called Kodiaq.
Skoda showed a concept version of the car at this year's Geneva Motor Show, called Vision S
The name refers to the Kodiak bear that lives on a remote island off the southern coast of Alaska, but the spelling is derived from the language of the indigenous people – the Alutiiq. Almost 3,500 Kodiak bears live alongside around 14,000 people on Kodiak Island. The native Alutiiq people call the bear Taq uka 'aq – the letter ‘q’ at the end is a characteristic of animal names.
Skoda showed a concept version of the car at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, called Vision S. However, the name was widely expected as soon as the Czech carmaker officially registered it as a trademark earlier this year.
The name refers to the Kodiak bear that lives on a remote island off the southern coast of Alaska
The Vision S offered a number of strong hints of the Kodiaq production model’s design and features, with the 4.70m-long, seven-seat SUV also acting as the first of a new line-up of Skoda SUVs, which will include a new-generation Yeti and, potentially, a coupe-like model with a more raked roof – in much the same way that the BMW X6 is related to the X5.
The styling of the Vision S concept featured a prominent front grille, slim headlights (similar to those on the current-generation Superb), a clamshell bonnet and roofline that tapers slightly towards the rear.
The Vision S offered a number of strong hints of the Kodiaq production model's design and features
Another significant feature of the concept, which could also be available on the production car, is a petrol-electric hybrid engine, a 154bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit combined with a 54bhp electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
A second electric motor on the rear axle could also add another 114bhp, with a total of 222bhp available to the four-wheel-drive SUV. Performance figures released by Skoda suggest a 7.4-second 0-62mph, but CO2 emissions of just 45g/km and an electric-only range of 31 miles.
We expect to see the Kodiaq unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October, before going on sale at the start of 2017