What Car? Electric car awards 2020 winner Hybrid estate car
The first electrified model in ŠKODA’s history, the Superb iV, has rolled off the production line at the ŠKODA Kvasiny plant.
The new SUPERB iV plug-in hybrid is built on the same production line as SUPERB combustion engine variants.
In the SUPERB iV, a 1.4 TSI petrol engine and an electric motor deliver a combined power output of 160 kW (218 PS). The new model variant will be available in 'Ambition' and 'Style' trim levels as well as in Sportline and L&K versions.
This is a major step towards the future of electric driving for ŠKODA cars.
The production plant has needed several adaptations, including renovations to the assembly hall and body production area. It is now one of the most modern and digitally advanced production sites in the automotive industry.
The Superb iV is set for launch at the beginning of 2020.
It features some minor external updates to differentiate it from the petrol and diesel versions. These include:
The SUPERB iV also features a storage compartment under the boot floor for the standard equipment UK three-pin charging cable (wall box/charge point charging cable not included as standard specification) and storage compartments in the side of the boot.
The SUPERB iV is offered in both hatch and estate body styles, in SE Technology, SE L, SportLine Plus and Laurin & Klement trims.
In addition to the standard SUPERB trim specification, SUPERB iV offers:
The new infotainment unit provides specific graphics for the SUPERB iV:
UK-specific trims also have the following in addition to the standard SUPERB petrol/diesel versions:
The SUPERB iV is fitted with a 1.4 TSI engine, supported by an electric motor and a brand-new six-speed DQ400e direct-shift gearbox (DSG), which can deliver maximum torque of 400Nm.
The electric motor is built directly into the DQ400e gearbox and is separated from the petrol engine by a clutch. It is used to start the engine and also functions as the alternator. Compared to other DSGs, the DQ400e is characterised by a triple-clutch instead of the usual dual-clutch. The third clutch works as a coupling element between the electric motor and the engine. All three clutches are housed in an oil bath.
The SUPERB iV uses the petrol engine and the electric motor in three different ways, depending on the driving mode selected:
The car battery can be charged in three different ways:
It takes five hours to fully charge the battery (from a flat state) using the 10 amp mains UK three-pin cable and three and a half hours using a 16 amp AC cable connected to a wall box/charge point (not included as standard specification).
The SUPERB iV is approved for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme grant, which provides up to £500 towards the installation of a home charging station. SUPERB iV has also been added to the list of eligible vehicles within the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) pages on GOV.UK.
Pod Point is the recommended provider for home charger installations, click here for more information.
