[jkdas]

New Yeti would have a 60mm longer wheelbase of 2638mm (from 2578mm of the current version). The reason of doing this modification is to provide more rear passenger space to occupants which is what Chinese customers prefer.

http://motorbash.com/skoda-yeti-gets...hina-spy-pics/

The size is one thing that puts back a prospective buyer here in India when he is putting 17-18lac for a SUV. This version should address that issue.

Interesting to note that car manufacturers listen to feedback from users in China. I do remember some another manufacturer doing the same ( Is it for new Sail ?) .

[srishiva]

Will they introduce this in India? Can they do it at the same price as current one (considering they are discounting the current ones by big bucks)

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by jkdas

The size is one thing that puts back a prospective buyer here in India when he is putting 17-18lac for a SUV. This version should address that issue.

Interesting to note that car manufacturers listen to feedback from users in China. I do remember some another manufacturer doing the same ( Is it for new Sail ?) .

Yes for both Indians and Chinese the size does matter. Rear legroom too, because most of the time, vehicles in this bracket end up being chauffeur driven.
Apple is one more company that seems to listen more carefully to feedback from the Chinese than feedback from us Indians...

[Prithvi]

THe only difference is that in India, the manufacturers short change we Indians. IF Skoda China can do this why cannot Skoda India do it! They think by throwing whatever they give us Indians we will gladly accept! We too are to blame! IF we stop taking crap from the manufacturers then they will have no other option but to listen to Indian automobile consumer.

[avira_tk]

India is a tiny market for VAG as a whole, Audi considers China its second home market. No manufacturer is going to develop specific cars for a market where the total sale is under 5 figures.

The one who pays the piper calls the tune - the Chinese market is a worthwhile investment, India meanwhile is more concerned with mileage and cubic volume. India specific cars are a long way off, getting Chinese LWB versions is something that may happen in the long run.

[xplorauto]

From early this week an European brand of car is conducting a promotional event in our apartment complex. I casually parked myself at the booth at various times of the day to check out the response as I thought the potential buyers here in these 700 odd apartments was a microcosm of the larger Indian auto market place.

All of the inquiries I witnessed had one common grouse...the cars these Germans offered did not provide the 'features' the Koreans did...

Not even a single soul came close to complaining about the missing EBD or the need for a TCS. Even the fact that the sheet metal of these European cars being thicker was a real problem for many as that would compromise on the mileage obtained. So would the wider tires that thee Germans use. We are still a market who lay larger emphasis on steering mounted controls, rain sensing wipers, and auto head lamps and are willing to trade-off on safety necessities like EBD, TCS, ride and handling.

"Fetish for Frills" is possibly a trait we deeply share with our Chinese neighbors...

Now, with miscued demands from a distorted market like ours how else do expect the Europeans to respond? Plonk in some cheap Chinese entertainment gear in the name of an "IPL edition" in a Vento or some chrome blings for an "Absolute edition" in a Linea...

How can then we expect a Fiat to introduce their Multi-Air and 1.6 Multijet-II or Volkswagen to introduce their TSi or DSG on their B segment cars?

When we have not yet evolved to appreciate the Haldex clutch system that the Yeti uses, or the purpose behind its small form factor, the easy thing Skoda would perhaps do to rake in the numbers is to launch an extended wheel base Yeti on a 4x2 Ambition or Active.

But is that a direction we want our market to take where we want to stretch everything into an MPV? If so we, we may never find a place for the likes of a Nissan Qashqai as it would not be a CAAAAAAR we can ever appreciate...

[~~h]

Good find, thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by jkdas

Interesting to note that car manufacturers listen to feedback from users in China. I do remember some another manufacturer doing the same ( Is it for new Sail ?) .

BMW also sells LWB version of 3 & 5 series in China; it's a chauffeur driven market.