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The Skoda Superb and Octavia, much-loved performance and luxury sedans of the past, are set to make a comeback, much to the delight of enthusiasts.
next-gen Superb
The Skoda Octavia was discontinued in India on April 1, 2023, followed by the Superb, which was discontinued on June 5, 2023, and the primary reason was dwindling sales.
The discontinuation of the Skoda Octavia, especially, was mourned on automobile websites and social media – but let us not forget, the love was not translating into open wallets and purchases.
Skoda India is now gearing up to reintroduce them into the market by mid-2024.
Initially, both the Superb and the new Octavia will be fully imported. That means that the high prices will likely remain, and sales could very well be lacklustre. Does it matter though? We think Skoda does not mind. After all, a couple of flagship sedans is good for the brand.
The Superb will mark its return first, with Skoda planning to reintroduce the previous-generation model previously available in India. It is expected to make its way to showrooms in the luxurious Laurent and Klement trim around mid-2024.
Made-In-India Skodas on on hand, assembled cars on the other
There will always be two strategic areas for Skoda in India. On the one hand, we will have the heavily localised, made in India cars that will come from the Pune factory (locally built Kushaq and Slavia), and on the other hand, we will also have the parts and component cars (locally assembled Octavia and Superb) that will come from our plant in Aurangabad.” Said Petr Janeba, brand director of Skoda Auto India.
Equipped with a BS6 Phase 2-compliant 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 190hp and 320Nm of torque, coupled with a 7-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox, the Superb promises a dynamic driving experience. The sedan will accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 7.8s.
Petr Janeba said, “India has around 25,000 Superb customers who are very loyal and are currently unhappy.” Being fully imported, the sedans will have to face India’s high taxation policies. We expect the Superb to be sold for around Rs. 43 lakhs. We are not sure if those unhappy customers would really be happy hearing that – after all, that’s Audi, BMW and Mercedes price territory there.
Following the Superb, the Octavia will also return to the Indian market. Skoda is committed to catering to its loyal base of over 70,000 Octavia customers by ensuring the sedan’s availability in the market. While no specific timeline has been provided for Octavia’s relaunch, Skoda is actively working on its reintroduction.
“The Octavia will have a long life and run all the way to 2034 with a series of facelifts and updates. Parts and components preparation could take around 18 months, as the car’s emissions now have to be tested for 2,00,000 kilometres,” said Janeba.
For the start, Skoda is considering imports for both models, as the process of local assembly involves extensive preparations, including emissions testing over significant distances. Despite the challenges, Skoda remains dedicated to returning these beloved models, promising a long life for the Octavia with facelifts and updates until 2034.
In the Indian market, there are not many competitors for both sedans. The Octavia, belonging to the D-segment, doesn’t have direct competition for now. On the other hand, the Superb is a more premium offering, belonging to the E-segment. It will be priced higher than the Octavia and will rival luxury sedans such as the Toyota Camry, Audi A4, BMW 3-series, and Mercedes-Benz C-class.
With the return of the Skoda Superb and Octavia, enthusiasts and loyal customers can look forward to experiencing the unmatched blend of sophistication, performance, and practicality these iconic sedans offer.
The post All-New Skoda Superb, Octavia: India Comeback Timelines Revealed first appeared on Cartoq.
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