Skoda is set to debut its next-generation Superb between September and November this year, but Australian customers will have to wait until the end of 2024 or early 2025 to have one in their driveways.
Michael Irmer, Skoda Australia’s managing director, has confirmed the Superb may arrive around a year after its global debut.
“[It will arrive] probably about six to eight months after Kodiaq, that has to do with engine availability,” Mr Irmer told CarExpert.
“We will in the meantime, we will have a few more of the outgoing generation so that we can supply customers. It’s not that high volume, as you know.”
The Kodiaq is already launching six to nine months after its global reveal, also taking place this spring.
Mr Irmer noted police departments are still taking delivery of the current car, but are also eager to get their hands on the new Superb.
The Superb will continue to be offered in both wagon and liftback guise, unlike the related next-generation Volkswagen Passat which will be wagon-only.
The next Passat has yet to be locked in for an Australian launch, which could open up more police sales for the Superb – particularly as other police mainstays in Australia, like the Kia Stinger and BMW 530d, exit production and the Chrysler 300 is gone.
The Western Australian Police already use the Superb for highway patrol duties, like the Stinger, 530d and 300 in other states.
The Superb has been spied testing ahead of its reveal later this year.
Although wrapped in camouflage, photos depict a similar shape to the outgoing model but with a distinct sharp crease that wraps around the side and back.
The belt line appears higher and more steeply raked as well.
Skoda’s new corporate branding will appear on the new Superb, featuring a new wordmark on the front and rear while the wheels will continue to receive its current winged logo.
The interior layout and design is yet to be revealed however based on the Vision 7S concept, Skoda may look to include a tablet-style infotainment touchscreen along with a line of physical buttons and three rotary dials.
The next-generation Superb will be offered with diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.
Skoda Australia has ruled out PHEVs locally, while a diesel is unlikely to return given the brand now offers a petrol-only line-up locally.
The Skoda Superb is expected to move to the MQB Evo architecture in next-generation guise, like the current Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia, and Cupra Formentor.
So far this year Skoda has sold 113 examples of its Superb liftback and wagon, a 66.5 per cent decrease YoY and well behind the now wagon-only Passat (327).
Around 90 examples of the Superb recently reached dealers as the brand recorded over 1000 vehicle arrivals in a month, its largest stock intake since the middle of 2021.
Skoda has been experiencing stock shortages, but these are set to ease for most models within the range and normalise by the end of the year.
Last year the Superb was hit with with semiconductor shortages which forced Skoda to remove matrix LED headlights from some variants and the 12-speaker Canton premium sound system on the 206TSI Sportline variant.
Skoda Australia says these features will return once semi-conductor shortages have eased.
MORE: Everything Skoda Superb
