The launch of the new Superb - Taking Skoda to the top of the class
Posted by: kak in Skoda
SkodaAuto will enter the top of the upper-medium segment for the first time in over fifty years as it launches the new Skoda Superb in the UK on 27 May, 2002. The Superb is the best expression yet of Skoda’s outstanding technological capabilities, passion for design and dedication to rebuilding the brand to its earlier excellence. With on-the-road prices starting at just £14,200, the Superb is proof of Skoda’s commitment to providing great value across the model range.
Built on a wheelbase of 2803mm, the Superb’s passenger space is outstanding. The rear seat legroom in particular is exceptional among upper-medium vehicles, translating into limousine-like rear seat comfort for even the tallest passengers.
Available in three equipment specifications, Classic, Comfort and Elegance, the Superb is equipped to satisfy the high expectations of drivers in the upper-medium class. Standard equipment is extremely comprehensive and includes climate control with additional vents to the rear seats; remote central locking; electric windows front and rear; electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors; front and side airbags for driver and front passenger; and sound system with CD player.
Comfort trim additions include cruise control; rear acoustic parking sensors; umbrella holder in the rear door; and 16″ alloy wheels. The Superb Elegance adds bi-xenon headlights; heated front and rear seats; electronically-adjustable front seats with memory function for the driver’s seat and door mirrors; electric sunroof; and 17″ alloy wheels.
Skoda innovations abound, all designed with practicality and comfort in mind. The umbrella holder in the rear door drains to the outside so the Skoda umbrella can be put away while still wet. The Coming Home function switches the dipped headlights on when the doors are unlocked with the remote and keeps them on for 30 seconds after the doors are closed. CatVision provides diffused night time interior illumination without interfering with the driver’s vision.
The Superb will be available at launch with a choice of four engines. These include the economical 2.0 litre with 115 bhp; and the 1.8 litre 20V turbocharged, 150 bhp petrol engine, which delivers excellent torque with combined fuel economy of 34.0 mpg. Also available at launch are two new engines, both V6 units that provide outstanding driving capabilities. The six-cylinder diesel is the state-of-the-art 2.5 litre, V6 TDI that produces
155 bhp and excellent fuel economy at 39.8 combined mpg. The ultimate Superb petrol engine is the 2.8 litre 193 bhp V6, offering a maximum speed of 147 mph, acceleration from 0 - 62 mph in only 8.0 seconds, and average fuel consumption of 28.2 mpg. The V6 engines with optional Tiptronic automatic transmission are available in Elegance trim.
Two additional diesel engines will be available in late-summer 2002. Both are 1.9 TDI Pumpe Düse engines with high-pressure injection, turbocharger and variable blade geometry. One has 100bhp and the other, 130 bhp. The 130 bhp engine provides excellent torque, combined fuel consumption of 48.7 mpg and CO2 emissions of just 154 g/km.
Pricing for the new Skoda Superb begins at £14,200 for the Classic 2.0, rising through the Classic and Comfort ranges to the top of the range Elegance 2.5 V6 TDI with Tiptronic automatic transmission at £24,500. Most sales are anticipated to be of Classic and Comfort models. As a result, over 90 per cent of all Superb customers will buy their new car for under £18,000, additional proof of Skoda’s exceptional value.
All prices are on the road and include metallic paint, Skoda’s two-year unlimited mileage factory warranty followed by a third year of warranty provided by SkodaAuto UK that will be valid until the vehicle has completed 60,000 miles; a 10-year anti-corrosion warranty; and a 3-year paint warranty. As with all Skodas, the Superb is covered by a 3-year roadside assistance package, which includes European cover, and inclusion on the International Security Register (ISR) for three years.
With its exceptional passenger space and comfort, a wide range of engine choices at great prices, competitive CO2 emissions and high levels of specifications, the new Superb adds up to great value for private buyers and company car drivers alike.
The original Superb, first introduced in 1934, was a luxurious, stylish car owned by wealthy entrepreneurs and royalty alike. Now, as then, the Superb is Skoda’ s flagship model, a great combination of elegance, self-confidence and advanced technology. It marks Skoda’s re-entry into the top of the upper-medium segment and demonstrates the strength of Skoda’s growth and development over recent years.
The design study of Skoda Superb:
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