Skoda’s new seven-seater, due for its global launch in the second half of 2016, is called the Kodiaq.

The name comes from a bear native to Kodiak Island which is positioned off the southern coast of Alaska. The Volkswagen-owned brand chose this name as a nod to the car’s ‘size, strength’ and ‘family spirit’.

The Kodiaq is spelt with the letter q — rather than k — acknowledging the language of the Altuiiq people that live on Kodiak Island. Altuiiq men and women refer to their native bear as Taq uka ‘aq, but is known to the rest of the world as the Kodiak bear.

Skoda -Kodiak -cover