Skoda drives in 3rd generation Superb sedan

The new Skoda Superb will be launched by the second half of next year

Czech carmaker Skoda has unveiled the latest version of its flagship model Superb sedan as it looks to enhance position in the mid-class segment and will be launched in India by the second half of 2016.

"This car marks the beginning of a new era for Skoda.

“In recent years, we have renewed and expanded our model range.

“The new Skoda Superb demonstrates our aspirations in the automotive mid-class segment," Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland said during the global unveiling of the car in Prague.

Skoda has delivered a total of more than 7,00,000 units of the first and second generation Superbs to customers across different markets in the world.

The new Skoda Superb will be launched by the second half of next year, the company's Indian arm Skoda Auto India's chairman and managing director Sudhir Rao told PTI.

Skoda said it intends to continue "the success story of the brand's top model range with the third-generation Superb".

"In terms of creativity and technology, it (the new Superb) reaches a new level of performance, shows Skoda's reclaimed position and leads the way into the future of the brand," Vahland said, adding that the car would ‘attract new private and business customers to Skoda.’

Commenting on the improvements on the latest Superb, Skoda's Head of Design Jozef Kaban said: "The wheelbase has been increased by 80 mm and at the same time the front vehicle overhang is 61 mm shorter than before. This new architecture provides the car with dynamic elegance."

The new Skoda Superb comes with direct-injection turbocharged engines with five options in petrol and three in diesel.

All powertrains comply with EU6 standards and have stop-start technology and brake energy recovery as standard, the company said.

Except for the entry-level petrol version, all engines are available with modern dual-clutch transmission, it added.

Image: Skoda Superb. Photographs: Kind courtesy, Skoda