The new Yeti Replacement moves the model towards a more standarised car than the car it replaces.

• Name and spelling derived from the language of Alaska’s indigenous people
• The name KAROQ is a combination of the terms ‘KAA’RAQ’ (car) and ‘RUQ’ (arrow)
• Consistent nomenclature for all current and future ŠKODA SUV models
• With the KAROQ, ŠKODA is consistently advancing its SUV campaign
• World premiere of the new compact SUV will take place in Stockholm on 18 May

ŠKODA’s new compact SUV is called the KAROQ. The name and its spelling originate from the language of the Alutiiq, an indigenous tribe who live on an island off the southern coast of Alaska. 

For the name of the new compact SUV, ŠKODA has drawn on the spelling of the ŠKODA KODIAQ and in doing so, has created a consistent nomenclature for the brand’s current and future SUV models. 

The ŠKODA KAROQ will be introduced to the public for the first time in Stockholm on 18 May and represents a further milestone in ŠKODA’s SUV campaign.

“The ŠKODA KAROQ is a completely newly designed SUV that sets new benchmarks for our brand and its segment in every way. With this new SUV, we are taking the next logical step in our SUV strategy,” said ŠKODA CEO Bernhard Maier. 

“The ŠKODA KAROQ impresses with its unique brand identity and a distinctive product identity and is introducing – alongside the typical ŠKODA strengths – the brand’s new, emotive design language into the compact SUV segment,” added Maier.

As before with the ŠKODA KODIAQ, the people from Kodiak Island provided the inspiration for the name of the ŠKODA KAROQ. 

The coordinates of the remote archipelago off the southern coast of Alaska are 57°N and 153°W, and its untamed, unspoilt landscape is fascinating. In the language of the indigenous people from the Alutiiq tribe who live there, ‘car’ is ‘KAA’RAQ’. 

They use the term ‘RUQ’ for ‘arrow’, the symbol that constitutes the central element of ŠKODA’s logo and represents the brand’s dynamism. In the end, the name for ŠKODA’s new compact SUV – the ŠKODA KAROQ – was formed from the powerful combination of both words.

“It is important to us to give our new SUV a powerful name. It also forms part of a naming approach across our SUV models,” said Werner Eichhorn, Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “At the same time, we are creating exceptional and memorable brand recognition value for our customers,” continued Eichhorn. 

As part of ŠKODA’s 2025 future strategy, the brand will continue to consistently advance the expansion of its model range in the coming years. The focus will be on expanding the SUV portfolio in particular. 

With the launch of the ŠKODA KODIAQ, a new large SUV was introduced to the international markets only recently. With the introduction of the ŠKODA KAROQ, the company is now setting the next milestone. 

The new compact SUV will be celebrating its world premiere on 18 May in Stockholm. Its market launch will follow in the second half of 2017.

NIO, the new brand for China launches 11 new cars in one hit at the Shanghai Show.

• NIO unveiled new production vehicle, the NIO ES8, a 7-seater high-performance electric SUV for the China market
• NIO ES8’s official launch will take place at the end of this year, with deliveries expected to begin next year
• NIO to begin taking pre-orders of its flagship supercar, the NIO EP9, priced at 1.48 million USD
• 11 Cars: NIO showcased the largest line-up among automotive start-ups at the Shanghai Auto Show

NIO, the next-generation car company showcased 11 vehicles for its Chinese debut at the 2017 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition. The company unveiled the ES8, its new vehicle for the China market that is planned for serial production later this year, and announced it will begin taking pre-orders of its flagship supercar, the NIO EP9. 

INTRODUCING: NIO ES8 

NIO’s new production vehicle for the China market is called NIO ES8. The NIO ES8 is a full size 7-seater electric SUV with a 2-3-2 seating arrangement. The length of the vehicle is over 196 inches long and the wheelbase is over 118 inches long. The ES8 has an all-aluminium body and chassis, front and rear motors with electric all-wheel drive, and active air suspension. The ES8 features the “design identity” of every NIO vehicle: the X-bar and signature “Spark Beat” tail lights. The vehicle’s swappable battery will provide a charging experience that surpasses refuelling at gas stations. The manufacturing and supply chain that will produce the ES8 is already in place. 

The NIO ES8 has been tested for thousands of miles. The vehicle has been tested in Yakeshi in Inner Mongolia, where temperatures can reach -22 degrees Fahrenheit as well as Melbourne and Mildura, Australia, where temperatures can reach over 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ES8’s official launch will take place at the end of this year, with deliveries expected to begin next year. 

NIO Founder and Chairman, William Li, said: “Today we unveiled our new production vehicle, the NIO ES8, to the China market. It is another statement of our vision and technical and manufacturing capabilities. It is a best-in-class product that showcases what is possible with electric vehicles. I am proud of our relentless focus on vision and action. From track to road, NIO continues to achieve major milestones every year.” 

NIO EP9 SUPERCAR 

NIO also announced it will begin pre-selling the fastest electric car in the world, its flagship supercar, the NIO EP9. The first batch of six EP9s produced were for investors. NIO plans to produce a second batch of ten EP9s, and each one will be made to order. The NIO EP9 is priced at 1.48 million USD. 

In November 2016, NIO unveiled the fastest electric car in the world, the EP9, by setting the track record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. In February 2017, it also set the record for fastest autonomous lap with the EP9 at the Circuit of the Americas|.