Škoda launches the PHEV version of its flagship sedan, the Superb iV

The Superb iV, Škoda’s first production model to be fitted with plug‑in hybrid drive, will be powered by a 1.4 TSI petrol engine and an electric motor delivering a combined power output of 160 kW (218 PS).

With an all‑electric range of up to 55 km in the WLTP cycle; around 850 km can be covered when combined with the petrol engine. The battery has a capacity of 37 Ah and 13 kWh of energy: the car's CO2 emissions are less than 40 g/km. The Škoda Superb iV fulfils the Euro 6d‑TEMP emissions standard.

The battery can be charged conveniently at home overnight, for example, using a standard plug socket or in 3 hours 30 minutes using a wall box with a charging output of 3.6 kW. The socket for the charging cable is located behind a flap in the radiator grille. The Škoda Superb iV is also able to recharge or maintain the level of charge in the battery while driving, using its petrol engine and brake energy recovery. This allows drivers to cover a longer journey's ‘last mile' - in a city, for example - again without producing any emissions there.

Driving Mode Select offers three different special settings: Sport mode, E-mode and Hybrid mode. In Sport mode, drivers have access to the maximum power output of 160 kW (218 PS) and 400 Nm of torque. In combination with the 6‑speed DSG that comes as standard, this unlocks the car's full potential for dynamic driving. In E-mode, the Škoda Superb iV is powered exclusively by the battery; in Hybrid mode, the electronics regulate the interaction between the petrol engine and the electric motor.

The lithium‑ion high-voltage battery is positioned in the chassis floor in front of the rear axle. The Škoda Superb iV's boot capacity is 485 l in the hatchback and 510 l in the estate. The petrol tank can hold 50 l. From the outside, the hybrid model can be identified by the iV badge at the rear; the front is shaped by a redesigned bumper with a honeycomb structure and Air Curtains. Thanks to the E-noise sound generator, road users such as pedestrians and cyclists will be able to hear an approaching Škoda Superb iV that is driving in electric mode in good time.

Trailer Assist, makes it effortless to simply and safely reverse park when towing a trailer. The display shows a diagram of the car and trailer pictured from above. The driver can select the direction and angle in which to reverse the trailer. To do this, they use the wing mirrors' adjusting knob like a joystick and then all they have to do is keep an eye on traffic and control the acceleration and braking. The system takes over the steering.

Area View, uses four cameras to provide the driver with a 360‑degree panoramic view of the vehicle on the central display, thereby making it easier to park or manoeuvre in narrow streets.

Production is set to commence at the Kvasiny site in early autumn this year; the market launch will take place at the beginning of 2020.