169kW Skoda Octavia RS 230 revealed
Skoda will officially unveil the Skoda Octavia RS 230 alongside the all-new Superb and Monte Carlo at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
SKODA SAYS the new Octavia RS 230 is the fastest series production Octavia RS the brand has ever produced. Running a tweaked 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine it produces 169kW or 230PS (hence the name) and will hit 100km/h in 6.7 seconds, but don’t get too excited as that’s only one-tenth quicker than the standard Octavia RS.
Borrowing the front-axle diff lock from the VW Golf GTI, the Octavia RS 230 is set to go on-sale in Europe in June. It’s unknown whether it will make it Down Under but we’ve asked the question.
The Geneva Motor Show will also see Skoda premiere the “sporty” Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo. Largely a cosmetic tweak only, it gets black 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels, cost-optional sports suspension, black design elements on the exterior, tinted rear and rear side windows and a tinted panoramic glass roof. The interior offers, among other things, a three-spoke sports leather steering wheel, and sports seats.
But it’s the new 2016 Skoda Superb the brand will be banking on. “The new Superb heralds the dawn of a new era for Skoda,” said Skoda CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland.
“Over recent years, Skoda has established itself as an international volume manufacturer. Our new flagship is now the highlight of Skoda most comprehensive model campaign ever, and shows where Skoda stands today.”
He continued, “The car’s outstanding design and engineering qualities, and the unbeatable space make our flagship the new benchmark in the automotive mid-class. The new Skoda Superb is a clear demonstration of our growth and points to the future of the brand.”
With styling cues from the Skoda VisionC show car, the new Superb, which is built off the Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform will, for the first time feature Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), including drive profile selection. In addition, the Superb debuts, for Skoda, a new air-conditioning system, including new three-zone climate control. A cost-optional electronic sliding panoramic roof is also available, along with auxiliary heating, heated seats, wirelessly heated windscreen and an electrically operated boot that can also be opened with a ‘virtual pedal’ under the rear bumper. And one other feature, which is perhaps the coolest of the lot: an umbrella tucked away in each of the front doors.
The new Superb will be available with a raft of safety systems, including: standard multi-collision brake, Front Assist, including City Emergency Braking, Automatic Distance Control, Proactive Occupant Protection, Lane Assist, Congestion Assistant, Blind Spot Warning, Reverse Parking Assistant, Emergency Assistant, Fatigue Detection, Speed Limiter, Traffic Sign Recognition, Hill Start Assist and an Electronic Tyre Pressure Monitoring system. The new Superb also features Smart Light Assist. Whether all of these safety features will be available on Australia delivered cars remains to be seen.
As is the way with these new systems, the Superb’s new infotainment system automatically connects to many smartphones, allowing you to access your car’s vitals via SmartGate on your smartphone. Thanks to high-speed internet connection, the Superb is the first Skoda hotspot on wheels. With the Skoda Media Command app, back-seat drivers can operate the infotainment system from the rear using a tablet device.
The new Skoda Superb boasts five petrol and three TDI common-rail diesel engines, weight reduction of up to 75kg, and improved aerodynamics, the new model consumes up to 30% less fuel, and emits less CO2 than before too. Despite the reduced consumption, the new engines provide up to 20% more power. All-wheel drive is also available.
Skoda Australia hasn’t announced a release date for the Superb in Australia, but we’ve reached out and will update this article when we hear back.