<![CDATA[Jalopnik: superb]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: superb]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/superb http://jalopnik.com/tag/superb <![CDATA[ 2009 Skoda Superb Supremely Safe, Achieves Five Stars In Euro-NCAP Tests ]]> When we first saw the 2009 Skoda Superb we got weak in the knees. We asked the doctor to Czech us out and his Prague-nosis was that this Passat platform mate, with its twindoor system, was just too sexy. We know, it's a liftback sedan like all the others. But is it? Euro-NCAP, sort of the IIHS of Europe, tested the Superb and gave it five stars or 35 points for the protection of adults and 40 points for the protection of children. The big difference? Knee airbags. Brilliant. Press release below the jump.

FIVE euro-ncap STARS FOR THE NEW Superb

The new Škoda Superb has received five stars in independent crash tests performed by Euro-NCAP. One of the factors to have contributed to the highest possible rating is a knee airbag. Commenting on the new Škoda Superb, Euro-NCAP points out that the protection of the occupants' knees and thighs is excellent.

The Superb has achieved the highest possible scores also in side impact and pole impact simulations, receiving 35 points for the protection of adults and 40 points for the protection of children. The quality of pedestrian protection is very high, too.

"The new Superb has been developed to provide the occupants with maximum possible safety. The Euro-NCAP results confirm that we have managed to produce a top-quality vehicle in terms of performance, user comfort, as well as safety, one of the key aspects from the customer's perspective, and I am indeed very pleased about that", said Dr. Eckhard Scholz, Škoda Auto Board Member responsible for Technical Development.

Standard equipment for the new Superb includes seven airbags and other top-level safety elements, such as a new-generation chassis that is more rigid than that of the vehicle's predecessor and front seats optimised to protect the occupants from cervical spine injuries. Optional equipment includes two additional airbags, an adaptive front lighting system, and more. The new Superb will go on sale in the UK in September.

[Source: Skoda] ]]>
Wed, 28 May 2008 09:40:00 EDT Matt Hardigree http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=393618&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Skoda Superb Estate In The Works? Is Someone Reading Our Diary? ]]> Skoda_Superb_Estate_render.jpgIf you know us, you know we love the 2009 Skoda Superb. For serious. It's the best looking thing they build on the the Passat platform. And now our friends at World Car Fans have some spy photos of what looks to be a Superb Estate and a rendering of what they expect it to look like. We're all in support of taking our favorite Czech VW and giving it an extra pillar but... what about the Twindoor? Whatever, give us a Superb Estate and we'll fill it with good Czech beer, leggy Charles University philo students and Vaclav Havel. Just because.

[AutoMuse via WorldCarFans]

]]>
Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:45:00 EDT Matt Hardigree http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=375864&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Skoda Superb GreenLine's Only Emission Is The Sex And CO2 ]]> For those who haven't noticed, we're a little dragon for the 2009 Skoda Superb (i.e. the Czech Passat) and it's clever TwinDoor system. And a version that gets better mileage and is better for the environment, why not? This version of the Superb gets a 1.9-Liter inline-four turbodiesel good for about 105 horsepower and the US equivalent of 46.1MPG.

In addition to the diesel-sipping engine, the Superb also gets some tweaks to the nose to create a better airflow around the car and a suspension adjustment that lowers the car by about 15 mm. We're not sure what kind of improvements come from the addition of the models, but if it's necessary for the environment we're on board. [Skoda via CarScoop]

]]>
Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:20:00 EST Matt Hardigree http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=365121&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ It's A Hatch, It's A Trunk, It's The Skoda Twindoor System ]]> The 2009 Skoda Superb was already our favorite version of the VW Passat when the company released images of it earlier this year. Since then we've been waiting for pictures of the new Twindoor system, which promised the styling of a sedan with the usability of a hatchback. We were dubious until we saw the pictures. The Twindoor tailgate splits below the window, allowing normal trunk action or full-on hatchback accessibility.

As far as we can tell, this feature is fairly unique as far as an application in a sedan (some SUVs have a similar system). This is the kind of thing we'd like to see on more non-Czech cars. [Source: Skoda]

]]>
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST Matt Hardigree http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=363678&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ 2009 Skoda Superb To Be Outfitted With VW Media System ]]> It only took Skoda, the Czech VW subsidiary, decades to emerge from the automotive Dark Ages and finally throw a tech bone or two into its sedans and the like. The latest news coming out of the land where they invented pilsner is that the Skoda Superb, which is primed and ready for an unveiling at the Geneva Auto Show, will also be outfitted with VW's hard-drive based navigation system, the RNS 510.

The second-generation VW Touareg, upcoming Tiguan and possibly the Passat Coupe are the VW variants that will get the RNS 510 30 gigabyte media and navigation system. [Crave]

]]>
Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:45:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=350169&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Skoda Unveils 2009 Superb ]]> Wow, we continue to be boggled by Skoda's meteoric move up market. The company released these teaser shots today of the 2009 Superb sedan. No details, except that it'll feature a "generously sized interior" and "a number of smart solutions." The rest will be unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show in March. Is it just us, or is their a hint of Renault Vel Satis as you look along the Superb's flanks?

]]>
Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:45:00 EST Wes Siler http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=332415&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ It's Just Pure Luxury: The Skoda Superb! ]]>

Far be it from us to front on a young man thrilled enough with his folks' purchase of a Skoda Superb — the A6L-based econolux machine of nominal Czech extraction — that he would actually make a video about its 1.9L TDI brilliance and post it to YouTube. After all, it does share one salient feature in common with the Rolls-Royce Phantom dreamed up by VW competitor BMW: it's got self-draining door-mounted umbrella compartments. Take that, SEAT!

Related:
Skoda Arrives in China! [Internal]

]]>
Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 EDT Davey G. Johnson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=261495&view=rss&microfeed=true