Photo: Skoda
Skoda is continuing to rub elbows with more premium German car brands. As such, a plug-in hybrid version of the Superb, its biggest and most luxurious car, will be launched next year.
We suspect that the launch of the Superb PHEV coincides with a mid-life facelift for this somewhat forgettable Czech sedan/wagon. And thanks to the wonders of the MQB platform, it's easy to install the electric goodies.
While the Volkswagen GTE brand has been relatively unsuccessful in conquering the Prius market, it does come with the technology needed by the Superb.
According to a recent scoop from UK magazine Auto Express, the Superb PHEV is going to have 215 HP from a combination of 1.4-liter TSI engine and electric motor.
We expected Volkswagen to eventually switch to the newer 1.5 TSI, but it seems that's not the case. The Superb PHEV will, however, have one significant advantage over the Passat GTE, and that's pure electric driving range.
The Passat promises 50 km (31 miles) of pure electric range on its 9.9 kWh battery. However, the Superb's under-trunk area is big enough for a 13 kWh battery which means 70 kilometers with absolutely no CO2 emissions. For most people, that's enough for the commute to and from work.
“It’s not a question of the technology, but we have to see what our customers are expecting from such a product, and how much they’re willing to pay for it, because the plug-in hybrid systems don’t come free”, according to their chief of powertrain development, Martin Hrdlicka. “So, first we have to see how the Superb goes, and the reaction of our customers.”
Of course, by the time the Superb PHEV is launched, we're going to be dealing with a brand new generation of Octavia. But even if a plug-in version of that car isn't approved, we know that Skoda's first fully electric car will be derived from VW's MEB platform and enter production in 2020.
While the Volkswagen GTE brand has been relatively unsuccessful in conquering the Prius market, it does come with the technology needed by the Superb.
According to a recent scoop from UK magazine Auto Express, the Superb PHEV is going to have 215 HP from a combination of 1.4-liter TSI engine and electric motor.
We expected Volkswagen to eventually switch to the newer 1.5 TSI, but it seems that's not the case. The Superb PHEV will, however, have one significant advantage over the Passat GTE, and that's pure electric driving range.
The Passat promises 50 km (31 miles) of pure electric range on its 9.9 kWh battery. However, the Superb's under-trunk area is big enough for a 13 kWh battery which means 70 kilometers with absolutely no CO2 emissions. For most people, that's enough for the commute to and from work.
“It’s not a question of the technology, but we have to see what our customers are expecting from such a product, and how much they’re willing to pay for it, because the plug-in hybrid systems don’t come free”, according to their chief of powertrain development, Martin Hrdlicka. “So, first we have to see how the Superb goes, and the reaction of our customers.”
Of course, by the time the Superb PHEV is launched, we're going to be dealing with a brand new generation of Octavia. But even if a plug-in version of that car isn't approved, we know that Skoda's first fully electric car will be derived from VW's MEB platform and enter production in 2020.
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