Alaska seems to be the big thing in car names at the moment. General Motors have long had a massive 'Denali' model of its Yukon SUV, named for Alaska's (and the US's) highest peak. Renault recently showed a concept version of its upcoming one-tonne pickup called the Alaskan, and the badge may well make it through to the production model.
Now we have the Kodiaq, named for a fearsome Alaskan grizzly, and the first big SUV from Skoda. Previewed at the Geneva motor show two months ago by the VisionS concept car, the Kodiaq will represent a significant step forward for Skoda. Just as the Superb saloon has recently been trawling the shark-infested waters of the executive car market (with a cheeky promotion that saw Skoda dealers offering a BMW 5 Series as a back-to-back test drive comparison) so the Kodiaq is expected to do for Skoda what the Santa Fe once did for Hyundai – turn it from bargain bucket into premium competitor.
It will need the strength of a bear for that job. Premium buyers, especially Irish premium buyers, are notoriously difficult to shift from their brands, and the Kodiaq, as well as taking on the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento will also have to contend with the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and the new Jaguar F-Pace, whose lowest price points will intersect with the Kodiaq's highest.
It will use the same basic mechanical package as VW’s new Tiguan, but stretched a little to provide seven-seat accommodation and a vast boot. Engines will range from the most basic 1.4 turbo petrol a 180hp 2.0-litre TDI diesel and, eventually, a plugin hybrid option.
Skoda seems to be going all out to underline the authenticity of the Kodiaq name. Although the bears actually live on Kodiak Island, the local Alutiiq natives call them Taq uka ‘aq, and it’s the native ‘q’ that Skoda has pinched for its 4x4. That makes its name perhaps a little more distinctive, and less likely to be confused with a brand of 35mm camera film. According to Skoda, there’s also a connection between the bears’ social habits and the seven-seat, family friendly layout of the car. “Kodiak males are one of the largest and strongest bear species. In contrast to some other species, they live peacefully and socially: They form social bonds, share experiences other and play together. Some Kodiak bears will even share their best locations for catching salmon” said a Skoda spokesperson.
There are just 3,500 Kodiak bears left in the wild. Something tells us that the Skoda version will become rather more populous, rather more quickly. Irish sales of the Kodiaq will kick off in early 2017.
