VW Group's Skoda Division Sets New Record in 2010 with 762,600 Sales

The once ailing Skoda brand is turning out to be a solid investment for the Volkswagen Group as the Czech automaker is breaking one sales record after the other. In the year that just passed on, Skoda Auto recorded is best-ever sales results delivering 762,000 vehicles, which represents an increase of 11.5% over 2009 when it sold 684,200 units. Furthermore, the company broke the threshold of three quarters of a million vehicles sold in a single year for the first time in its history.

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A Painted History of Skoda

Just today, we learned that Skoda delivered a record number of vehicles in the first nine months of 2010, increasing its operating profit by a whopping 64%. This is what most people know about the Czech automaker; that it has been a wild success since Volkswagen took over the reins of the company. But there are others -myself included- who think the real glory of Skoda lies in its past.

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Skoda Introduces New 1.6 TDI to Superb Range

The VW Group's new 1.6 TDI turbo diesel is making its way to the options lists of the European market Skoda Superb saloon and Estate / Combi (station wagon) models, where it will replace the 1.9 TDI.

While the smaller displacement 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel unit produces the same output figures as the 1.9 TDI with 105-horsepower and 250Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque, it promises to offer improved diesel mileage and lower CO2 emissions.

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New Skoda Superb Fastback Design Concept

With Volkswagen and Audi both featuring what marketers and advertising agencies like to call "four-door coupe" models in their range (the Passat CC and A5 Sportback respectively), one wonders why the German group hasn't added a similar model to their more mainstream brands, Seat and Skoda.

Czech architect and designer Pavel Hrubyi decided to take matters in his own hands (or so to speak) and draw a four-door coupe, sportback, fastback or whatever else you would like to call it, proposal for the Skoda brand based on the firm's range-topping Superb saloon.

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Skoda: Powertrain Updates for 2011MY Octavia, Yeti and Superb

European market Skoda models Yeti, Octavia and Superb will be getting powertrain updates for the 2011 model year starting from the end of this month. In detail:

The engine portfolio for the Yeti crossover has been extended with the VW Group's 122HP 1.4-liter TSI petrol unit combined with manual transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD), as well as a 140HP 2.0 TDI CR DPF turbo diesel with automatic DSG transmission and FWD, and the more potent 170HP 2.0 TDI CR DPF turbo diesel with manual transmission and 4WD.

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Skoda Superb Range Enhanced with More Fuel Efficient and Cleaner 2.0 Turbo Diesel

A revised 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that incorporates the latest Common Rail diesel technology and produces 140 horsepower is replacing the 2.0 TDI of the same output in the Skoda Superb saloon and Combi models.

The Volkswagen Group's Czech brand said that with the new engine, combined fuel consumption for the Superb 2.0 TDI CR has improved by 4.4mpg to 52.3mpg UK (5.4 lt/100km or 43.5mpg US), while CO2 emissions have been reduced by 12g/km to 143g/km.

At least in what concerns the UK market, these improvements have been made without affecting the Superb's price, which starts from £18,205.

The new Superb 2.0 TDI CR 140HP is available for order in Britain from 18th February with a choice of six-speed manual or twin-clutch DSG transmissions, in hatchback or estate bodystyles and in S, SE or Elegance trim.

The latest diesel engine option joins the existing 1.9 TDI PD 105HP and 2.0 TDI CR 170HP diesel engines that are offered in the Superb line-up.

New Skoda Superb Greenline Arrives on UK Shores

The most eco-friendly model in the Superb line-up will go on sale in the U.K. on Monday, October 13th. Priced at £16,710 OTR, the new Superb Greenline features a 105HP 1.9-liter TDI diesel engine, fitted with a particulate filter, and comes with a five speed manual gearbox. The Czech automaker's engineers have adopted a number of fuel saving measures that include reducing the weight of the car, making the gearing longer and re-mapping the engine for greater efficiency. -Continued

Together with improved aerodynamics and low resistance tires, the Superb Greenline manages to achieve a combined fuel economy of 55.4 mpg UK (46.1 mpg US or 5.1 lt/ 100 km) while emitting 136 g/km of CO2.

The Greenline is a separate trim level and sits between the entry level S and the mid-range SE in the Superb's UK range. Equipment above the S model includes sunset glass, cruise control, four spoke leather steering wheel, lowered suspension, small rear boot spoiler and tire repair kit.

New Skoda Superb Goes on Sale in the UK

Skoda’s new flagship model, the 2009 Superb, goes on sale in UK showrooms today, Thursday 18 September, with prices starting from £15,490 and rising to £26,675 for the range-topping 3.6-litre V6 Elegance model. The Czech sedan that features an innovative ‘twin door system’ allowing the saloon boot lid to open on its own or in tandem with the rear window, will be available with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines, from the 1.9 TDI PD 105 HP to the 3.6 V6 260 HP 4x4 DSG. -Continued

Other engine options include the 125 HP 1.4-liter TSI and 160 HP 1.8-liter TSI gasoline units as well as the 140 HP 2.0 TDI and the new 170 HP 2.0 TDI common rail diesel engines.

Skoda offers three trim levels on the new Superb: S, SE and Elegance. Standard features across the range include ESP, seven airbags, front and rear electric windows and alloy wheels.

Commenting on the Superb, Robert Hazelwood, Skoda’s UK Brand Director, said: “The New Superb is our most ambitious car to date and testimony to our brand’s confidence in the competitive upper medium market. It combines value for money, interior space and engineering solutions designed with the customer in mind in a fantastic package.”

2009 Skoda Superb Update: Official Details on Engine Range & More

VW’s Czech subsidiary has released new pictures and information concerning the all-new Superb that is about to receive a premiere at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Before we get into details on the Superb’s engine line-up, let us tell you about the “TWINDOOR” application. According to the Czech carmaker, the “TWINDOOR” is a tailgate opening system developed and patented by Škoda engineers that makes it possible to open either just the boot lid (for small pieces of luggage) or lift the whole tailgate including the rear window. So, does that make the Superb a 5door liftback or a sedan model? -Continued

As for the engine line up, the Superb will be offered with three petrol and three diesel engines matted to either manual or automatic DSG transmissions. The petrol engine portfolio includes the all-new four-cylinder 1.4 TSI (125 HP), the 1.8 TSI (160 HP) and the brand new 3.6 FSI V6 (260 HP). The most powerful version of the Superb will only be available with an automatic DSG transmission and a four-wheel drive system and will appear in the market shortly after the official launch of the new model.

The diesel engine portfolio includes 1.9 TDI PD DPF (105 HP), 2.0 TDI PD DPF (140 HP) and the all-new 2.0 TDI CR DPF (175 HP) with common rail injection.

Additionally, Skoda revealed that the new Superb will offer a variety of high-tech systems including the AFS (Adaptive Frontlight System) that makes use of the possibility of changing the geometry of the headlamp beam and adapting the lighting in front of the vehicle to suit different driving conditions, thus enabling the driver to identify obstacles and react to them in time and . the all-new high-tech navigation system with a touch screen and a hard disk.

2009 Skoda Superb: New Images Including Interior

The more we see of the new Superb (details here), the more it reminds us of the Renault Vel-Satis but that’s something we wouldn’t brag about if we worked at Skoda… Leaving the weird looking exterior aside, we also discovered the first official image of the 2009 Superb’s interior. Skoda’s designers seem to have mixed elements from their own Octavia with VW’s Passat. Overall, the new Superb’s cabin looks quite nice in the usual Teutonic way that all VW Group products do. -Check out the interior after the jump

2009 Skoda Superb: Official Details & Pictures

Skoda has unveiled the first official photographs and details of the all-new Superb that will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show on the 4th of March, 2008. While the new Superb differs in design from the VW Passat – as opposed to the outgoing model which was a carbon copy of the previous Passat, we doubt that it will win any beauty contests…

At 4,838mm long and 1,783mm wide the new Superb is 35mm longer and 18mm wider than its predecessor. It stands at 1,461mm high and has a wheel base of 2,761mm - 8mm lower and 42mm shorter respectively than the model it replaces. -Continued after the jump

The upper-medium notchback (5door-sedan) will be offered with a total of up to six, VW Group derived, engines - three petrol and three diesel units delivering from 105bhp to 260bhp. All engine units will be combined with a selection of manual or DSG transmissions.

The Superb’s features include adaptive cornering headlamps, a new electronic air conditioning system, automatic parking assist and nine airbags. The Superb will be manufactured in the Skoda’s Kvasiny plant in the Czech Republic and will go on sale in Europe during the second half of the year.