Continuing its ambitious plans for Australia, Volkswagen’s Czech-Republic-based brand Skoda used the Melbourne Motor Show to preview its luxury flagship model, the Superb.
A full-size luxury liftback – with a twist – the Superb will be launched later this year. Specification levels are high and the pricing looks very sharp with the entry level Ambition model – powered by a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine and driving through a seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) – listed at just $42,990.
The twist in the tail of the Superb is its ‘twin-door’ hatch which operates a conventional bootlid or – with the push of a button – converts into a full-size hatchback which opens electro-mechanically for easy access of bulky items to the large luggage area (up to 1,670 litres with the rear seats folded).
Skoda will launch the Superb lineup with a choice of two petrol and one diesel powerplant. The petrol engines are the four-cylinder turbocharged 1.8-litre TSI and a naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6 while the diesel is a 2.0-litre turbocharged common rail design.
V6-powered Superbs will be all-wheel-drive, featuring the latest version of Volkswagen’s Haldex system which under normal conditions transmits power through the front wheels, but automatically shifts power to all four wheels when conditions dictate.
Inside, the Superb delivers Skoda’s most prestigious offering with a spacious layout, luxury seats and trim materials plus a comprehensive list of standard equipment.
Skoda also used the Melbourne Motor Show to launch the facelifted Octavia mid-size hatchback and wagon.
There are some changes to exterior and interior appearance and the entry-level model is now powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine driving through a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. Other engines are the 1.8-litre TSI petrol (now available with an optional 7-speed DSG gearbox) and the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.
Now on sale, the new Octavia range starts at $26,990 – a great price for a well-equipped European.
