Coming soon: 2019 Skoda Superb iV PHEV

The Skoda Superb iV is the company’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model.
Skoda has launched a new sub-brand, iV, which will be used for its electrified vehicles. According to the Czech manufacturer, the ‘i’ stands for ‘innovative’ and ‘intelligent’, and the ‘v’ stands for ‘vehicle’. The company says it's going to invest two billion euros in the development of electric vehicles and new mobility services over the next five year, so this new Superb is just the start. The Superb iV is powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine with 156 horsepower and an 85-kW electric motor, which combined, make 218 horsepower. Drivers can choose from three modes, Sport – offering maximum power – E-mode, which is electric only, and Hybrid, which is a combination of electric and petrol power. The Superb iV comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

The car meets the latest emissions standards, with CO2 emissions below 40g/km. In all-electric, zero-emission mode, the car can travel up to 34 miles (tested on the WLTP cycle). The Superb iV can be charged using a standard household plug socket overnight, or using a 3.6kW wall box in 3.5 hours. Some energy can be recovered while driving using the petrol engine, and while braking. The car’s total range is more than 500 miles.
The Superb iV will be available in the Ambition, Style, Sportline and L&K trims, and as both a hatchback and estate. Compared to the normal Superb, the iV has unique badging and a redesigned bumper. It also comes with a sound generator so pedestrians and cyclists will be aware of the car, even when it’s in quiet electric mode.

There are a few bits that mark out the interior of the Superb iV as the plug-in hybrid model. The infotainment system has specific features that show the car’s battery charge status, and purely electric range. Drivers can also flick between modes using buttons in the centre console. Using the e-Manager app, drivers can set the air conditioning to turn on before a journey has begun, and while the battery is being charged.
The car comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 9.2-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch dashboard screen replacing the traditional instruments - called Virtual Cockpit - available as options. The Superb iV will come with all the usual technology including Android Auto and MirrorLink, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay. The top-of-the-range Columbus infotainment system offers extra functionality, including gesture control (wave your finger to control various settings like the volume), and a customisable touchscreen. The boot size is a bit smaller in the iV than on the standard Superb model. In the hatchback it’s 485 litres, and 510 litres in the estate.

Skoda has reserved a couple of assistance systems for its Superb iV PHEV: Trailer Assist makes it easy to reverse park a trailer, and Area View, which uses four cameras to provide the driver with a 360-degree panoramic view of the car on the central display.
As well as the new models, Skoda is also developing affordable wall boxes with different power outputs, and online services so owners can find charging stations quickly, and in the future, reserve a space in advance. The e-charge card will also allow customers to easily pay to charge their vehicle across Europe, regardless of the country they are in, or the provider they are using. By the end of 2022, Skoda will have introduced ten electrified vehicles. It estimates electrified vehicles will make up 25% of its total sales by 2025. The Superb iV will go into production in autumn this year, with first deliveries at the beginning of 2020.