Skoda’s April Fool’s Day prank was a fictional vehicle that’s would clear the snow off main European roads from the end of 2016.
Named the Snowman and billed as a snow groomer with outstanding off-road capabilities, it has an exterior design that pays homage to traditional Czech crystal glass art and stands at 9.13 meters long with its snowplough and snowblower, and 2.50 meters wide without tracks (5.26 m wide with the snowplough).
Inside, it has room for up to three people and some of its features include and air-suspended driver’s seat, multi-function box for snow boots, avalanche transceiver, magnetic snow shovel holder and heated cup holder. For an extra cost, Skoda will throw in the optional climate-controlled storage compartment for drying hats and gloves and keeping sunglasses fog-free. There is also an automatic fire extinguishing system, which uses snow from the surrounding air.
Adopting the latest tech, the Snowman carries a plug-in hybrid powertrain, with 400 PS (394 HP) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque, with energy recovery system, which provides a top speed of up to 20 km/h (mph). The vehicle can climb gradients of up to 100 percent and turn on its own axis. The average fuel consumption is approximately 14 liters / hour.
Skoda will launch the Snowman in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and other important European markets in December 2016, for a starting price of €280,000 ($317,950). Get in line, will you?
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