Czech it Out: Skoda reportedly to make future designs "more avant-garde"
Skoda Superb – Click above for high-res image gallery
Buyers overseas have plenty of good reasons to opt for a Skoda. Compared with the Volkswagens on which they're based, the Czech versions tend to be both more spacious and more affordable. But one thing they're not – or historically haven't been, at least – is stylish, the ho-hum designs generally appealing to more conservative buyers than their German or Spanish counterparts. But that's all about to change. At least it will if the company's design chief Karl Neuhold has his way.
The designer behind the new Superb – an innovative and elegant take on the Volkswagen Passat – says that future Skodas will be "more avant-garde [that] will make you feel well-dressed," while still incorporating the spaciousness and value that the brand has come to embody underneath the VW Group umbrella. Next up the Skoda pipeline is a replacement for the aging Octavia – essentially a bigger version of the Volkswagen Jetta – so we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for you.
Gallery: 2008 Skoda Superb
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kitko 7:24AM (10/22/2009)
Ellegant? This car is absolutelly hideous in flesh, offensive from each and every angle. It's simply too long and too narrow with stylistical feature taken from Fabia.
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Yaroukh 7:41AM (10/22/2009)
Yes, elegant. I'm far from being Skoda-fan but this is highly subjective. The front is nice and you won't mistake it with anything else. And while the rear might look weird on photos (I couldn't stand it from the start, calling it "chinese joke") in real it tends to grow on one.
And in white the car is just gorgeous.
Skodacar 9:39AM (10/22/2009)
Huh? That's because you mostly see them painted yellow for Radiotaxi AAA ? its a great looking car in person otherwise.
Yaroukh 7:45AM (10/22/2009)
Superb V6 (in white) review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxnun5nqffk&fmt=18
(BTW these guys are also quite entertaining. No, I'm not speaking about the indian accent. :)
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crommer 9:03AM (10/22/2009)
Where's the Superb Coupé?
http://cww.at/cars/skoda_coupe.html
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chris 9:17AM (10/22/2009)
While most Europeans seem to pick VW over Skoda because of the conservative styling, I think that same styling would play big in the USA. Skoda's fix the rear leg room problem most western European car companies seem to have. Skoda stretches the wheelbase and uses it all in the interior. VW should bring some in under the VW badge. IMO
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Luso 9:38AM (10/22/2009)
Promises, promises...!
I wonder how that strategy will affect the "wild sporty avant-garde" styling (NOT) of Seat?
http://www.carnorama.com
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LoneWolf 10:27AM (10/22/2009)
If you want a last season A4 or Passat, but you don't want to buy used, buy a Skoda!
They're just boooooooooooooooooooooooooooring.
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Yaroukh 1:32PM (10/22/2009)
Or Seat Exeo, which is last-gen A4, as officially as it gets. :)
mk15 10:51AM (10/22/2009)
Skodas aren't bad.. I always preferred their styling over the VW version of the same platform.
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P.V. 7:30PM (10/22/2009)
That's good to know, as the new Superb is about as close to that as they currently have, and that's not saying much.
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P.V. 7:31PM (10/22/2009)
I would, however, like a commenting system upgrade.
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