For a long time, Skoda was a byword for poor performance. That's not the case anymore though, with its Superb 2.0 TSI said to be the firm's first production car to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in under 6 seconds and faster than many of the supercars that were most celebrated while its own star was at its lowest.
Among the scalps Skoda says the new Superb model claims are the Porsche 911 Carrera, Ferrari 308 GTB and the Lotus Esprit, which, according to zeroto60times.com, debuted with 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) times of 7.4 seconds, 8.1 seconds and 6.4 seconds, respectively. According to Skoda, the Superb 2.0 TSI hits 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 5.8 seconds. To put that into perspective against its peers, a comparable Ford Mondeo will take 9.2 seconds and a Toyota Avensis 9.4 seconds.
To achieve this, Skoda has produced what it says is its most powerful production car ever. The Superb 2.0 TSI kicks out 280 PS (206 kW) from a turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol engine, although there's a less powerful 220 PS (162 kW) variant available if you prefer. It also has a direct-shift gearbox and four-wheel-drive.
Despite all this, it's still a just a large family car and, in addition to the Superb 2.0 TSI being the most powerful Skoda ever rolled out, its 660-l (145-gal) trunk is the most spacious of any Skoda too. Elsewhere, there are 18-in alloy wheels, a satellite navigation system, leather upholstery and heated seats as standard.
The Superb 2.0 TSI 280 PS was actually quietly released without any activity in the UK and Europe at the end of last year, but only now has the Czech carmaker made known just what it's all about. The car is priced from £31,445 (US$40,700).
The video below provides an introduction to the Skoda Superb.
Source: Skoda
