The facelifted Skoda Superb is set to be available as a full line-up during the third quarter of 2020, the local division has indicated, marking a 12-month delay since the original planned launch date.
Delays in production caused by the rollout of WLTP emissions regulations in Europe as well as more recent factory shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic are to blame for the lengthy delay, but now Skoda Australia is confident the wider Superb range will touch down before the end of this year, with engines carried over from the outgoing range.
Speaking with CarExpert, a Volkswagen Group Australia spokesperson confirmed the refreshed Superb will once again be available in lift back and wagon bodies, with either 162kW front-wheel drive or 206kW all-wheel drive 2.0 TSI turbo petrol engines.
Both engine variants promise to be highly specified with limited options, though final details are still to be confirmed. The 206kW Superb will almost certainly be solely offered as a ‘Sportline’ variant like the red vehicles pictured here, however.
It also spells the end of the limited-run 2020 Superb Scout and its high-tech 200kW 2.0 TSI powertrain with WLTP-friendly petrol particulate filter, at least for the time being.
Just 300 examples of the high-riding Superb will be made for Australia with the clean-burning engine option.
“We brought in the Superb Scout as a special edition essentially as a contingency until the permanent range is once again available in quarter three and couldn’t be happier with its reception,” said Pottinger.
“The Scout is equipped with a petrol particulate filter, which the regular range won’t be, simply because there’s no scope to build the Scout otherwise.
“As we’ve said, though, we’re more than confident that Skoda customers, particularly those looking at a special edition, are sufficiently invested in their vehicles not to ‘under-fuel’ with highly sulphurous regular unleaded.”
“It’s unacceptable that Australians are fobbed off with what is among the worst quality fuel in the OECD,” Pottinger added.
As previewed by the limited-edition Scout, the facelifted Superb sports a mildly updated design inside and out, with key changes being new bumpers, updated light units front and rear with the availability of Matrix LED headlights, Audi-esque scrolling tail light indicators, and the latest in Skoda’s driver assistance technologies.
The models bound for our showrooms later this year should also offer the VW Group’s latest MIB3 infotainment interface with wireless Apple CarPlay functionality, something unfortunately lacking in the Superb Scout.
It’s unclear whether pricing for the updated range will be adjusted significantly compared to the previous model, though as a guide the pre-facelift Superb 162TSI started at $43,990 before on-road costs while the 206TSI Sportline was priced from $59,990 before on-roads.
The plug-in hybrid Superb iV (pictured above) also remains off the table for Australia, with Volkswagen Group Australia focusing on pure-electric vehicles and bypassing hybrids – the onslaught should kick off with the VW ID.4 Cross SUV from 2022 or 2023.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest in the lead-up to the new Superb’s third-quarter launch.
