The new Skoda Superb A look inside the new Superb The new VW Transporter. Photo: Volkswagen Citroen's new van range. Photo: Citroen Only a madman or a fool would mess around with a winning formula and thankfully, Skoda has taken that advice on board with its flagship Superb.
Now in its fourth generation, the sleek fastback (the saloon was consigned to history a few years ago) has built on its reputation for offering luxury, comfort and reliability at a reasonable price. From its launch in 2001 as a limo-like Passat for the Chinese market, the Czech firm has consistently tweaked, improved and finessed its star car into a serious contender that’s more than worthy of a front-row space in the executive car park. Although the styling stays close to its predecessor, the subtle upgrades, such as the slimmer LED lights, chrome detailing in the lower bumper, sharper shoulder-line creases and 3D light clusters in the rear, all scream premium.
Inside, the cabin is, as expected, super spacious, with exit-like legroom (up 65mm on old model) for rear-seat passengers, while the cabin is an eclectic mix of hipster lounge meets tech geek’s dream. Open the door and you will be greeted with sumptuous cognac leather interior (or black for the less adventurous), twinned with bleached ash inserts in the upper dash and doors. The mega-comfy seats are ventilated and come with the option of massage function and memory mode.
Dainty door handles add to the elegance, as does the art deco slatted surround that curves around the entire dash. It is further enhanced by ambient lighting, while the crystal-clear binnacle with interchangeable dials is second to none. Add to that a larger 13-inch touchscreen, which is home to the car’s infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Auto Android.
A look inside the new Superb The design team has also upgraded the three-dial climate-control system, which now double up in functions. All come with individual screens and separate menus. The wheel in the centre can switch from fan to drive mode, to music volume, to phone with the press of a button, while the outer ones control temperature and heated-seat function.
Absolute genius and no need to be stabbing at a screen as the windscreen fogs up. The automatic gear select has also been moved to the right-hand side of the floating steering wheel, which frees up more room in the centre console. The boot is best in class too, with a cavernous 645 litres, which expands to 1,195 with the rear seats folded flat.
Irish customers can opt for a mild hybrid, HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) compatible diesel and for the first time, a PHEV. The plug-in has a claimed EV-only range of 125km and is available in the Combi. We tested the honest-to-goodness oil burner with a 2.
0-litre engine twinned to a seven-speed DSG auto box. The reassurance begins as soon as you press the ignition and the range tells you that you have 1,380km before your next fill. It’s like getting a big hug from your mum.
The gentle hum from under the bonnet is as refined as the surroundings and only a trained ear could tell it was a diesel. It’s got oceans of low-down torque and plenty of grunt as the tried-and-tested combo generate 150bhp. Granted, it’s not going to set your hair on fire with 0-100kmh in 9.
1 seconds, but what it lacked in straight-line speed, it more than made up for in comfort and composure on long motorway journeys. Skoda has overachieved again with its latest offering. It is, if you’ll excuse the pun, Superb by name and by nature.
Keep an eye on the options list, though, as prices start at €48,325 or €50,825 (for diesel). The new VW Transporter. Photo: Volkswagen Volkswagen has given us a sneaky peek at the new Transporter, which it says is bigger, bolder and better than its predecessor.
The seventh-generation model offers more space, more payload, more towing capacity, more efficiency and even more perfection. Judging by the teaser pictures, the commercial division didn’t go too mad on the overall exterior design and some would say the new offering is unmistakably Transporter. It will, however, be powered by a state-of-the-art turbodiesel, plug-in hybrid and electric drive systems, and all-wheel drive is available as an option.
Customers can choose their Transporter as a panel van with a high roof and an extended wheelbase. It also comes as a versatile people carrier in the guise of the Caravelle. The new lugger measures 5,050mm long (an extra 146mm compared with the T6.
1) and its wheelbase has been extended by 97mm to 3,100mm. The maximum width between the wheel housings has been increased by 148mm to 1,392mm. This makes it easy to stow Euro pallets and has a load capacity of 5.
8 m3. The long wheelbase model (5,450mm) and high roof will accommodate up to 9.0 m3.
The Transporter can also be equipped with up to six seats in the passenger compartment and various partitions. It also has a payload of 1.3 tonnes and can tow up to 2,800kg – up 300 on its predecessor.
The new Transporter will be here early next year. Citroen's new van range. Photo: Citroen Citroen has launched new versions of its Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay vans, as the French marque intends to further strengthen its position in the Irish market.
A benchmark in the van segment, the refreshed Berlingo comes with a new brand signature and a more upright front end from the radiator grille to the bumper and headlamps. Inside, the passenger compartment has been redesigned, with a more ergonomic dashboard featuring a high-definition 10-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Rear visibility is enhanced by the reversing camera, which includes top-rear vision.
It also gets a new ergonomic steering wheel proudly displaying Citroen’s new logo. It is loaded with enhanced driver safety features, including advanced emergency braking, electronic stability control and driver attention assist 3 (DAA3). Its larger siblings get similar tech.
The new Berlingo starts at €27,770, the Dispatch at €36,195 and the Relay starts at €35,295. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.
