This year will bring a facelift not only for
Europe’s VW Passat, but also its less glamorous yet roomier sibling, the Skoda
Superb. We already saw a 2019 Superb prototype testing last summer, and now
it’s time for an even more revealing sighting. Spotted by our photographers in
five-door liftback version, the Superb features very light camouflage up front
that disguises the final shape of the headlights, grille and bumper.
It’s pretty clear the changes won’t be
significant. The headlamps will probably be updated with a new LED signature
and the grille will draw inspiration from the brand’s latest concepts. In these
shots, the bumper looks slightly more aggressive and that’s obvious in the
inclined position of the fog lamps.
At the rear, the taillights gain new LED graphics
and a covered band that unites them. That could be either a chrome strip as on
the Chinese Superb, or a light strip that would fit the latest trend in the
auto industry. Some new paint colors and alloy wheels should also be on the
menu.
As for the interior, expect some light improvements
including a tidier center console and bigger infotainment screens, along with
the same enormous passenger space and cavernous boot, which in the estate
version is absolutely huge.
Rumor has it the big Skoda
will gain a plug-in hybrid version, just like its platform sibling, the VW
Passat. The gasoline-electric hybrid should be sourced from the Passat GTE,
which pairs a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric
motor for a total output of 218 PS and an estimated all-electric range
of 50 km.
Updated turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines,
including the new 1.5 TSI with cylinder deactivation tech, should also be
offered alongside the plug-in hybrid. The 2019 Skoda Superb may launch as soon
as the Geneva Motor Show in March, with deliveries commencing in summer.
