THE NEW ŠKODA SUPERB - COMPREHENSIVE FACELIFT FOR ŠKODA’S MOST RELIABE LONG-TERM TEST-CAR

The Skoda Superb has been one of the most popular as well as most reliable long-term test-cars with many European publications and media such as the German car magazine Auto Bild and Auto Zeitung, as we were able to read and see during the past few weeks.

We at Auto Arabia are planning as well to do a long-term test with the Superb soon, but this time with the new facelifted 2013 Skoda Superb, which will be our second Skoda long-termer after our Fabia 1.6 litre 100.000km long-term test-car.

I only hope that by then the customer service and service center of Skoda Egypt Artoc Auto would have improved significantly in order to have any similar problems with our planned Superb long-term test-car like we are currently having with our Fabia long-termer.

Waiting more than eights days for a technical report and not being able to call the correct person in charge for the long-termer is simply not acceptable and very unprofessional, and surely not up to the standard of the Skoda Auto mother-company.

Anway, so what about this new 2013 facelifted Skoda Superb then?

Well, this will be part of ŠKODA’s model offensive which will continues which the launch of this new ŠKODA Superb.

Having undergone a comprehensive facelift, both Hatch and Estate versions are set to make their world premieres on 19th April 2013, on the eve of the Shanghai Motor Show.

ŠKODA’s flagship model impresses with a fresh and attractive design, a new interior and new technology features, while it will be launched in European markets at the end of June 2013.

“The Škoda Superb is the pinnacle of our model line-up and proves ŠKODA’s capability as a manufacturer. This comprehensive facelift has made our top model even more attractive,” said Škoda CEO Winfried Vahland.

The design of the Hatch and Estate endows them with an assured presence and resolutely demonstrates their reputation as the flagships of the brand. The new Superb impresses with improved fuel economy and features new solutions in terms of technology. At the same time, the Superb confirms all the good values that have made this model line a success for 12 years now.

“The ŠKODA Superb offers comfort beyond the upper-middle segment. This means lots of room, excellent functionality, high comfort, top safety, great value for money and timeless elegance. We are always intent on offering our customers a little bit extra car,” said Vahland.

Exterior:
The ŠKODA Superb boasts a completely new front and rear. Elements of the brand’s new design language are clearly visible: clear lines, precise quality and balanced proportions. The front of the car, which has been completely redesigned up to the A-pillar, looks much more distinctive.

The grille, car logo, head and fog lights, bumpers, front wings and bonnet are new. The distinctively drawn front with a significantly wider grille as well as the completely redesigned headlights creates an assured appearance. Available for the first time in the Superb line-up are bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights.

The rear of the Superb Hatch and Estate has also been completely redesigned with a focus on clear, tidy and precise lines. The rear light graphic has been reinterpreted to further emphasise the brand’s typical C-shape. This will be the first time in the Superb that LED stripes create this shape, and are fitted as standard on all models. Two triangular elements on the Hatch are another unmistakable feature of the new ŠKODA design.

The Superb’s exterior is now available in two additional metallic finishes: Meteor Grey and Moon White. New 16-18 inch alloy wheels are also available.

Interior:
New interior fabrics and patterns for the seat covers as well as new designs are now available. In the highest level of trim, the Škoda Superb Laurin & Klement (L&K), a new brown-ivory colour combination is available.

Engines:
In terms of engines and drive technology, the ŠKODA Superb is even more attractive: Selected engines save more than 19% fuel when compared to their predecessors. Contributing to this is Start–stop and kinetic energy recuperation technology, which will be standard in all Škoda Superb diesel engines, in addition to the entry-level 1.4 TSI 125PS petrol engine in EU countries.

This 1.4 TSI 125PS engine in combination with automatic transmission will be a best-seller in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries with with high taxes and customs on engine larger than 1600cc.

The Superb GreenLine offers fuel consumption of just 67.3 mpg, with CO2 emissions of 109 g/km.

The 2.0 TDI 140PS diesel engine now features a manual transmission in the 4x4 version. Additionally, the 2.0 TDI 170PS 4x4 diesel now comes with a six-speed DSG dual clutch transmission.

Class-leading space:
The Škoda Superb continues ŠKODA’s tradition of offering a huge amount of space. The Hatch and Estate offer class-leading space in the upper-middle segment, with the largest boot and the most rear seat legroom for passengers. There is now a new function available to make travelling in the back that bit more comfortable: For the first time ever, the front passenger seat can also be easily moved from the rear electronically.

The amount of boot space offered in the Superb remains unbeaten in its class: The Hatch with 595 litres, the Estate 633 litres – both are the ‘best-in-class’. With the back seats folded down, the transport volumes increase to 1,700 and 1,865 litres respectively.

Skoda hopes that the new Superb reaffirms its reputation as a clever representative of the upper-middle segment. An umbrella stored in the door, a feature otherwise available only in top-end luxury vehicles, is available. Another ‘Simply Clever’ solution of the new Superb Hatch is still the Twindoor tailgate.

A unique, ŠKODA-patented solution permits the tailgate to be raised in two stages: users can choose to open either the boot lid or the entire tailgate including the rear window. The technology has become even simpler to operate: each opening mode now has its own button.

More ‘Simply Clever’ features include the Jumbo Box in the centre console, storage pockets in the doors and under the passenger seat, the practical sunglasses compartment and also the storage area in the centre armrest of the backseat – all well thought through. This is also true of the boot which offers practical features such as an optional variable boot floor, lockable storage, bag hooks, lashing eyelets and optional holding nets.

The comfort offering in the new Superb has increased significantly with the latest-generation Park Assist. The new system now supports both parallel and reverse bay parking and assists in both entering and leaving parking spaces.

In addition, the new Superb offers superior comfort features such as an electric sunroof with integrated solar cells in the Hatch; the electric panoramic sunroof in the Estate; the automatic lock and start system; KESSY (keyless entry); air conditioning and four modern audio and navigations systems: up to the top navigation system, Columbus, with a 6.5” colour touch screen and integrated 30GB hard drive.

Safety:
The Superb puts its best foot forward in terms of safety, as demonstrated by a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. In EU countries, the Hatch and Estate are fitted with ESP, ABS and Brake Assist as standard. The optional Adaptive Frontlight System (AFS) ensures excellent visibility in the dark.

What wonders me here is that Skoda Auto is allowing other models such as the Octavia, Roomster and Fabia to be sold in the Middle East and North Africa without the live-saving ESP. This is something which needs to be reconsidered immediately by Skoda Auto, in order not jeopardize its reputation as a Volkswagen-Group member as well as a manufacturer of safe cars, caring about the health and safety of its customers in other parts of the world far away from Europe and the EuroNCAP crash tests.

The optional Hill Hold Control ensures a smooth uphill start without use of the handbrake. An electronic Tyre Pressure Monitor (TPM) is also fitted as standard on the Elegance and range-topping Laurin & Klement trim. In case of an accident, passengers are protected by up to nine airbags as well as three-point seat belts and height-adjustable headrests.

Stay tuned for more information about the new Skoda Superb as well as our long-term test-cars soon here on autoarabia.org and on our Facebook group during the next few days.

MS
04.04.2013
Mladá Boleslav - Shanghai - Cairo