Czech automaker Skoda has just announced that the 2016 Superb luxury saloon will make its global debut weeks ahead of the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The car, which is Skoda’s flagship vehicle, will be officially unveiled on the 17th of February. The 2016 Superb will later head to the Geneva Motor Show, to gain an audience with show goers from across Europe. Production of the luxury saloon will commence shortly with European deliveries to follow in the middle of the year. The MQB platform based car is likely to make its India debut next year, given that the facelifted model just arrived early last year.
The 2016 Superb’s interiors were recently revealed, and they reeked of quality and typical understatement, a thread that runs across most of the Volkswagen group cars. On the outside, Skoda has chosen to adopt the design language first seen on the Vision C concept. This design combines a mix of curves, straight lines and slabby bits to give the car a completely new stance. When compared to the outgoing model, the new car’s exterior dimensions get more expansive, with the interiors also gaining a fair amount of room. Sitting at the top of Skoda’s car range, the luxury saloon is expected to bring a new set of features and creature comforts to the table.
In terms of engines and transmissions, the 3.5 liter V6 naturally aspirated petrol gets dropped in favour of an all-turbo layout, while the 6 speed manuals, and 6 and 7 speed twin clutch automatics are retained. Both front wheel drive and all wheel drive iterations of the 2016 Superb will be sold in Europe while other markets are expected to make do with front wheel drive layouts. For India, the 1.8 liter TSI turbocharged petrol and 2.0 liter TDI turbocharged diesel engines will continue to operate in the 2016 Superb. Power outputs could see a bump up as these engines will be now be MQB compatible, while torque outputs are expected to remain constant.
A hot selling luxury saloon in India, the 2016 Superb could dominate proceedings in India, as diesels rule the roost in this segment, whose only other option offering a diesel motor would be the upcoming B8 Volkswagen Passat. One of the most luxurious offerings in this category for multiple generations, the new flagship Skoda is expected to be no different. The car will be CKD assembled at Skoda India’s Aurangabad assembly unit, and is expected to be priced above the outgoing model. In terms of pricing numbers, the car could be pegged a little under the 22 lakh rupee mark, which is about a 10 % premium over the outgoing model.
