Skoda Superb

India is an attractive market for car manufacturers from around the world. The growing Indian economy has invited car manufactures to open their showrooms here. Skoda, the Czech car manufacturer, has not been doing well in the European market; now they are spreading their tentacles on the Indian soil. The long wheelbased car shares its technology with the Volkswagen Passat. It is an executive-class car, which has a rock solid body and is very comfortable with spacious interiors. Skoda started selling in India in 2001, with only two dealerships in New Delhi. Now the company has spread its base in all the major cities in India. It entered the luxury segment by rolling out the Superb. It is to be positioned between the upper D and E segments, as it offers top-notch features. The car comes in three variants: Elegance Petrol, Elegance Diesel and the all new Comfort Diesel.

When the car was launched in the UK, it was amongst the costliest cars. Even in India, it competes with players like the Mercedes-Benz and the BMWs. Skoda now operates from its complete knock-down assembly plant; earlier it imported semi-built cars.

Volkswagen group company Skoda Auto India, after the success of Octavia, now looks at promoting the Superb. Though it offers all the features that the Mercedes has, it lacks the prestigious badge. It is a great car for the executive buyer, and the largest as well as the most comfortable in the Skoda stable.

Catering to the tastes of both, diesel and petrol car enthusiasts, Skoda has both the versions. The 2.8-litre V6 engine delivers 190 bhp and 28 kgm of torque at mid range rpm (3,200 rpm). The smooth engine is silent. It is mated to a standard 5-speed manual and an optional 5-speed tiptronic automatic. Slam the throttle to the metal, it sprints from 0-100 kmph in 10 seconds. The small gear ratio is good at stop-and-start city drives. Shifting is smooth and short. The huge car is not a fuel efficient one; it makes just 6 kmpl in city drive.

The Skoda diesel is a 2.5-litre engine pumping out 163 bhp. It has plenty of mid-range torque, and is one of the fastest breed. Performance is tuned for comfort, so you can not expect it to be a sporty performer. Both, the petrol and diesel variants are good sprinters. The top-speed of these front-wheel-driven cars is around 235 kmph with manual or automatic transmissions. The front is equipped with independent McPherson Struts and angled coil-springs, which soak up the bumps. The reinforced chassis is sturdy for Indian roads. The rear quadra-link suspension, a combination of strut-type coil-spring, damper units, transverse and trailing arm, performs passive rear wheel steering.

The Superb has carried over its straight lines from the Audi and has some design cues of the VW Passat. The solid-built sedan looks well-planted with a wide track and a narrow roof. The creases on the bonnet submerge into the rectangular chrome-framed-grille, and the headlamps are balanced by similar-sized air dams.

The 17-inch alloy wheels fill the arched fenders that add to the broad stance of the car. The clean sweeping roofline merges into the smart looking boot. The chrome embellishments on the body molding and window frames enrich its elegance.

Step in ? it is huge, luxurious and comfortable. With plenty of room for passengers of any size, the elegant and clean interiors are designed for optimum comfort. The doors open wide enough for easy entry and exit.

Standard features on the Superb include air conditioner, power controls and steering, cup holders, folding rear-seat, tubeless tyres, leather seats, power seats, adjustable steering, AM/FM radio, CD player, sun-roof and moon-roof. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), driver air-bags, passenger air-bags, immobiliser, central locking and child safety locks are some of the safety features.