The VW version will only be available as a station wagon.
We have spy photos of an early test mule that show a new Skoda Superb. The gallery below shows a prototype of the next-gen flagship model, riding alongside the body of the existing Superb. Although there is a lot of camouflage on the front, there are still things that are worth talking about.
This prototype confirms that the new Superb sedan will be offered, or rather, as a large liftback. It will join the Superb wagon which was spotted in October last year. The new Volkswagen Passat will be exclusively sold as a station wagon. The Volkswagen Group D-segment models of the Superb and Passat will be manufactured at the new Bratislava plant in Slovakia.
We can’t draw any conclusions about the new Superb’s design from this prototype as it clearly features the body of the current-gen model. With its camouflaged front, we might be able to see the new design language for the vehicle. However, the Superb’s more angular front bumper could hint at the new design language. Again, the disguise makes it almost impossible to predict what the Superb will look like. Skoda’s exterior design coordinator Petr Matusinec showed early sketches of the car last spring, suggesting an evolutionary design influenced from the current Octavia.
This will likely be the last Superb with combustion engines. It is possible to get a range of mild-hybrid and diesel engines, as well as two hybrid plug-in versions. Thomas Schafer, the brand’s CEO, stated last year that PHEVs were not the future. However, a PHEV configuration still makes sense for the Octavia or Superb fleets. Rumours suggest that the next-gen Passat will only be available with an automatic transmission, meaning that the new Superb may also lose its clutch pedal.
The Superb, Passat and other European D-segment competitors will be weakened. The Superb and Passat will have a SUV-like appearance and more rugged suspension, while their successors will retain their D-segment looks.