“Škoda Reveals Upcoming Superb and Kodiaq in New Light-Camouflaged Images and Rigorous Arctic Circle Tests”

Although we are still at least a whole summer away from the premiere of the fourth-generation Superb and the second Kodiaq, Škoda is attracting news with a surprising cadence even now.

The latest images present both new products only in light camouflage, so the cars can be viewed in daylight and from all sides, compared to the earlier fleeting and darkened views.

Probably the last classic models with internal combustion engines have undergone demanding test trials beyond the Arctic Circle. “Despite advances in computer simulations, testing in a real environment under the most demanding conditions remains an essential part of new vehicle development,” says Johannes Neft, Board Member for Technical Development.

All parts of the tested cars were under the microscope, including the chassis, body, engine, heating and complete electronics. The automaker states that, for example, all doors, the hood and the fifth door as well as the fuel tank cap and the cover of the charging socket on plug-in hybrid models must be able to be opened even under such unfavorable conditions below minus 30 degrees Celsius.

“When driving in real traffic, many aspects of the car’s behavior are evaluated, for example how well it copes with slush on the road or how the front and rear bumpers behave when hitting a snow obstacle. Driving over large pieces of ice tests the resistance of the suspension and the chassis as a whole,” the automaker says, adding that the vehicle’s lighting at night and the acoustic properties of frozen parts are also tested.

Test drivers also report that the test program also looks at many interior functions, such as the performance of the heating system at extremely low outside temperatures and thermal comfort levels. They also check if the windows are misting and how quickly they can be defrosted.

They also evaluate whether the heating of the seats, the steering wheel, the exterior mirrors and the front and rear glass work as expected. They also test the independent heating, if the car is equipped with it. In addition, they are investigating how well the central touchscreen responds when the temperature inside the vehicle drops below freezing.

According to earlier speculations, the Superb model will retain two bodies, i.e. a liftback and a station wagon. The first-named, more representative variant with a folding rear window has an even more gradual roofline compared to the current generation.

The glass apparently ends just before the rear tear-off edge. The front headlights are again L-shaped, and the rear ones resemble the traditional letter C.

The new Škoda Superb will be produced in Bratislava, where production from Kvasin was moved due to capacity reasons, for the first time alongside the Volkswagen Passat, which until now was produced in Emden, Germany, from where it gave way to electric cars for a change.

Like the new superb, the kodiaq will rely primarily on a mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid drive. While there are not too many changes to the body shapes compared to the current Kodiaq, the rendering of the lighting technology will be interesting.

The front headlights will probably again be composed of two parts, while the daytime running lights could form the letter ypsilon. The taillights seem narrower. The Kodiaq will continue to be produced in Kvasiny.