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S. Muralidhar

IN THE world of automobiles, every manufacturer is a willing participant in the naming game. Choosing a name for a new car is an exercise that at times even precedes the start of conceptualisation. Most names border on being pithy, easy to recall, exuberant and these days even abstract (names which have had no previous usage).

But every once in a while car companies also come up with names that border on being hyperboles! Examples could include Grand, Le Baron, Royale, Vanquish and so on. Joining the league of these seemingly boastful names will be the Skoda Superb. Despite the immodest sounding name, Skoda India, which previewed the new luxury limousine recently, is certain that the car itself will be well worth the eulogy.

The Skoda Superb first rolled out of the Czech manufacturer's plant in 1934. The luxury limousine at that time represented the best mix of performance, luxury and inner space. The car continues to be Skoda's flagship model and the most luxurious offering under the marque.

Though the Superb is Skoda's largest car and is clearly in the premium segment (Skoda calls it an upper middle-class model), it is visually clearly akin to the other Skoda models — the Octavia and the Fabia. By appearance, Skoda Superb belongs to the Octavia/Fabia family and is in keeping with its tradition of making all models share silhouettes and characteristic features which confirms their common background. The strikingly close profile of the Superb, however, does not in any way dampen the luxurious feel about the car.

So, after braving the car market two years back with a C-plus segment Octavia and making a success of the over Rs 10-lakh car launch, Skoda India now plans another novel positioning with the Superb. The key to the success of the Octavia, which Skoda hopes to duplicate with the Superb, is the high value and quality offering that the car represented within the reach of an average C-segment car buyer. With plans to price the Superb in the Rs 20 lakh-Rs 25 lakh band, Skoda hopes to again achieve just that — D-segment positioning, with the luxury appointments, technology, size and comfort levels of the E-segment.

The low-key preview event for the Superb was conducted classic Skoda-style, but the car itself was a real stunner. Refinements, loads of technology, mind-boggling attention to detail and driver comfort, class-leading levels of rear space and legroom are all characteristics that truly make this new car superb. Dimensionally, the Skoda Superb is in the league of the Mercedes E-class.

The Superb is likely to be launched commercially in India by February or March next year. The car will initially be imported fully built from the Czech plant. It is currently undergoing homologation testing. The Superb is expected to come in three versions — Classic, Comfort and Elegance. Pricing has not been finalised yet. Features-wise all Skoda Superb standard vehicles have a vertically and horizontally adjustable four-spoke steering wheel, height-adjustable driver's seat, passenger's seat with adjustable lumbar support, power windows all around, child-proof rear side windows, electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors, remote-control lockup system, two front and two side airbags in the front, three headrests and three 3-point seat belts in the back, with pre-tensioners on side seats, air-conditioning with vents for the back seats, stain-glass windows, multi-function indicator Maxi-DOT (with engines V6), fog lights integrated into headlights, washer liquid level indicator, audio and light warning signalisation of unfastened driver's seat belt, "lights-on" and "door-open" sound signalisation, fixtures for a radio with a collapsible roof antenna and eight amplifiers, 16-inch wheels with large "stone" decor, emergency triangle in the lid of the luggage compartment, and chrome-trimming on the upper edge of the side windows.

For courtesy illumination, there is a pair of reading lamps in the front and back, and leg-space lights on opening the door.

The Classic version of the Superb includes equipment such as CatVision illumination of the interior and illuminated chrome door handles. For safe parking at night, this version features the coming-home function which when activated, keeps dim headlights on for 30 seconds after closing the vehicle.

The Comfort version will have the following additional features: Leg-space illumination in the back, electronically controlled climatronic air-conditioning system, wet-case umbrella pocket and an eye glasses compartment. A skisack for carrying skis indoors is integrated in the folding armrest on the rear seat and an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror with automatic anti-dazzle screening that will keep that nagging high-beam headlamp light (from the car following you) from hurting your eyes. In addition, an automatic wiper operation sensor that is installed in the fixture of the rear-view mirror starts the wipers automatically when it starts raining.

The Elegance version in addition to the above features, will be offered with "Vavona" wood inserts in the central console and gear knob, upholstered central console, cruise control, heated front and rear seats with separate control for each seat, electronic seat adjustment with memory settings for upto three drivers and extra chrome trimmings. This version also comes with bi-xenon headlamps.

As the name signifies, the difference between the classic and bi-xenon headlight systems is the use of xenon lights both for low and high beam. The headlight system also includes classic halogen lamps used with high beam for better light distribution on the road. The Elegance's bi-xenon lights are also fitted with retractable washers built into the headlights.

Optional equipment that may be offered include head airbags, electrically controlled sunroof with solar cells, window glass in high-density stain glass, navigation system with SatCompass, TV-tuner for navigation, parking-distance sensors, mobile phone fittings, cooling box, multi-function steering wheel and an off-road package.

Engine options on the Superb that may be considered depending on customer requirements include an assortment of three petrol and three diesel engines. The petrol engines come with an output of 85 kW (115 bhp) and 110 kW (150 bhp). The top-of-the-line is a V6 engine with an output of 142 kW (193 bhp). The diesel engine options contain four-cylinder powertrains with an output of 74 kW (100 bhp) and 96 kW (130 bhp) and pressurised injection (pump-nozzle system).

The third diesel engine option could be a V6 with an output of 120 kW (163 bhp). Both the six-cylinder engines can be ordered with a five-gear Tiptronic automatic transmission, that allows an optional manual mode of shifting. All the gasoline engines meet the EU 4 emission limits. Both the diesel engines meet the EU 3 standards and the V6 2.5 TDI engine meets even EU 4 standards.

Gasp! Pant! Huff! That was quite a list. The Superb really promises to be an enviable package. If you are looking to buy a car in the Rs 20 lakh price bracket, this surely will be a car worth waiting for. Check it out next March before you take a decision.

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