As you can see from the photo, this mule is the prototype of the next generation flagship model of the brand with the body of the outgoing Superb. The front of the model is covered in a solid amount of camouflage, but already there are things worth talking about.
First of all, this prototype confirms that the new Superb will be available as a sedan, or rather a large liftback, to join the Superb station wagon seen last October. Recall that the Volkswagen Passat, which will have a common platform with the new Superb, will be sold exclusively as a station wagon. Both Volkswagen Group D-segment models will be assembled at the refurbished plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, meaning the Superb will no longer be built in the Czech Republic and the Passat will no longer be built in Germany.
Going back to this prototype, there's not much to say about the design of the new Superb based on the test car alone, as it shares the body of the current generation model. The camouflaged front end may give some hints of the car's new design language with its more angular front bumper, though again with so much camouflage, it's almost impossible to predict the Superb's look. However, Skoda's exterior design coordinator Piotr Matushinets released early design sketches of the car last year that hinted at an evolutionary design influenced by the current Octavia.
This is most likely the last generation of Superb to be available with internal combustion engines. A range of mild hybrid gas and diesel engines is expected, as well as two plug-in hybrid versions. While brand CEO Thomas Schäfer said last year that PHEVs are not the future, PHEVs still make sense in Octavia and Superb fleets. Rumor has it that the next generation Passat will only be available with an automatic transmission, which likely means the new Superb will also lose its clutch pedal.
The Superb and Passat will face weakening competition in the European D-segment as the Ford Mondeo, Citroen C5, Opel Insignia and other models have already been discontinued or will soon be discontinued. Their successors will be positioned as SUV-style models with a raised suspension and more rugged looks, while the Superb and Passat are expected to retain their classic D-segment looks.