Next-gen Skoda saloon and estate to feature plug-in hybrid with long electric range
JACK WARRICK
Anew generation of the Skoda Superb will go on sale next year with plug-in hybrid powertrains that offer an electric-only range of 62 miles.
This exceeds the range of every current plug-in hybrid within the Volkswagen Group and beats premium rivals such as the Volvo V90 Recharge (54 miles). It will position Skoda’s PHEVs alongside the Mercedes-Benz C300e Estate, which is also rated at 62 miles.
The 62-mile electric-only range is 27 miles up on that offered by the current Superb iV PHEV, which is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to an electric motor and a 13kWh battery.
The news was confirmed by Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer at the brand’s annual conference, although he did not reveal specific details of the new powertrain’s set-up.
The Skoda Kodiaq, which also enters a new generation next year, could be in line for this PHEV option as well, given that it doesn’t currently have plug-in power and the Czech firm is engaged in a rapid electrification push in which it has invested £4.9 billion.
With Skoda’s cars technically similar to those available from sibling brands such as Volkswagen and Audi, it could also lead to a significant plug-in upgrade for other group models, including the VW Golf and Audi Q3.
When the new Superb and Kodiaq are launched in 2024, they will arrive with an “attractive design” overhaul inside and out in addition to a few “efficient engines”. The first deliveries for both models are planned for early 2024.
The Superb will enter its fourth generation in saloon and estate guise, as with today’s model. The larger Kodiaq SUV will move into its second generation, having first gone
