Skoda has introduced a new flagship model to its Australian range.
Although new to Australia, the Skoda Superb has a long history – there has been a Superb in the Skoda line up at one stage or another, since the 1930s.

The new Superb features a number of technologies available in its VW and Audi brethren, while introducing some of Skoda’s own concepts, such as the TwinDoor, which turns the car from a sedan to a lift back at the touch of a button.

The unique, patented TwinDoor variable boot opening, designed by engineers at Skoda, means either the boot lid alone can be opened when smaller items are to be stored or by operating two small buttons on the edge of the boot lid to activate an electro-mechanical release, the Superb driver can lift the entire boot lid together with the rear window.

The rear aperture is then almost doubled in size allowing bulkier items to be loaded.

When the rear seat backs are in an upright position, the boot will accommodate 565 litres of luggage and if they are folded forward, the volume increases to an amazing 1670 litres.

The new Skoda Superb is 4838 millimetres long, 1817 millimetres wide and 1462 millimetres high.

The new Superb offers a range of engines, with two petrol variants and one diesel engine available in Australia.

The 1.8 TSI with 118 kW of power, recently introduced to the new Octavia range, provides peak torque of 250 Nm in the range from 1500 rpm to 4500 rpm and propels the front-wheel driven Superb to a top speed of 220 km/h. The 1.8 TSI is matched to VAG’s 7-speed DSG (direct shift gearbox) transmission.
The other petrol choice is in the new Superb 4×4 - a 3.6-litre V6 FSI with 191kW of power and a maximum torque of 350Nm between 2500 rpm and 5000 rpm.

This engine powers the car from 0 to 100km/h in only 6.5 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/h.

The 3.6-litre V6 is supplied with 6-speed. Torque distribution is designed to be variable and a fourth-generation Haldex clutch monitors this electronically so during normal driving traction conditions, 100% of the power goes to the front axle and when needed, all 350Nm of torque can be sent to the rear wheels.

The 2.0 TDI diesel works with common-rail direct injection and provides 125kW and a maximum torque of 350Nm between 1750 rpm and 2500 rpm. The diesel is coupled with a 6-speed DSG, which delivers a combined fuel consumption figure of just 6.9-litres per 100km.

Superb pricing begins at $42,990 for the Ambition 1.8, and the Ambition TDis is $45,990. Elegance specification is a $3000 premium on those models, while the Elegance 4×4 is $56,990.

Source: Autofile