Tuesday February 4, 2020 – ŠKODA Australia has announced that the Superb Scout, a limited edition version of its multiple award winning Superb wagon, will reach showrooms early in the second quarter.

The Superb Scout has not been previously available in Australia. ŠKODA Australia Director Michael Irmer said that with the mid-life revised Superb sedan and wagon not due until later this year the brand had obtained several hundred Scouts for sale in the interim.

The ŠKODA Superb Scout comes as a single specification model priced at $59,490, comparable in value to the Superb Sportline that has comprised almost half of current generation Superb sales.

With a 200kW/350Nm 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine sending power to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG transmission, the Superb Scout is both a grand tourer and an off-roader, the latter capability enabled by a special mode and a 15mm greater ground clearance than the Superb Wagon.

The Superb Scout is visually differentiated within and without from the usual Superb wagon not least by the option of Tangerine metallic paint. In common with the Superb wagon, the Scout's luggage compartment can be increased by 600 litres to an enormous 1950 litres with the rear seats folded.

The ŠKODA Superb Scout features:

• Full LED Matrix headlights
• Full LED rear lights with Dynamic indicators
• Front fog lights with corner functionality
• KESSY Full (all doors) and alarm
• 9.2" Columbus infotainment system
• CANTON premium sound system
• SmartLink – Smartphone connectivity including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Virtual Cockpit
• Digital Radio
• Adaptive Chassis Control with Drive Mode Select
• Automatic tailgate with Virtual Pedal
• 18" BRAGA anthracite polished wheels
• Alcantara/leather seats
• Electric Driver and Passenger Seat with memory function
• Climatronic triple zone air conditioning
• Heated front and rear seats
• 3 spoke heated, multifunction steering wheel with DSG paddles
• Automatic Park Assist with manoeuvre assist
• Rough road package, with additional powertrain protection
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring
• Hill start assist/hill descent control
• Side Assist & Lane Assist
• Emergency Assist
• Passenger Protection Assist
• Rear Camera
• Front Assist with City Emergency Brake and Predictive Pedestrian Protection
• 9 airbags
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Traffic Jam Assist
• Privacy Glass
• Wireless charging
• Stainless steel pedal set

Options

A factory fitted towbar will become available. Pricing is being determined.

Last year ŠKODA Australia succeeded in having this market's climate classification reviewed to enable the introduction of the previously withheld Kodiaq RS with its 176kW/500Nm 2.0 bi-turbo diesel engine. Now the Superb Scout will be the first ŠKODA vehicle on sale in this market with a petrol particulate filter.

"This particulate filter can withstand petrol with 50 parts per million of sulfur, but it must be understood that these cars can run only on Premium Unleaded," Mr Irmer said. "While that's also true of all our non-filtered petrol cars, which will not run to their full capability on basic unleaded petrol, 'underfuelling' accidentally or to save money at the pump will rapidly require the costly replacement of the filter.

"While we will continue to access non-filtered engines wherever possible, our view is that all motorists would benefit by the immediate introduction of a higher quality petrol - as used in most first world countries - with less than 10ppm in place of current 'Premium'."   

Mr Irmer said that the announcement of the Superb Scout heralds the most significant new model year in the ŠKODA's local history.

"For 2020 ŠKODA finally has in place a full range of SUVs, starting with the compact Kamiq, through a dual Karoq range and a Kodiaq with a range topping RS performance variant," Mr Irmer said.

"Fabia, Octavia and Superb remain range pillars, but a full SUV range will bring our distinctive brand to the attention of more buyers than at any time since we arrived in 2007.

"ŠKODA is one of the few brands in this market to have experienced growth in 2019. Not only did we exceed 6000 sales for the first time in a calendar year, we beat the 7000 mark. Our sights are set on 8000 sales in 2020. ŠKODA Australia's long-held ambition to be a 10,000 vehicle a year brand is on track. All ŠKODA Australia vehicles are imported from Europe."      

 ŠKODA's 2020 product rollout begins in March with the $65,990 Kodiaq RS seven-seat performance SUV. The Superb Scout follows in April.

The Karoq SUV is re-launched in May with the 110TSI 1.4-litre front drive variant joined by the long-awaited 140TSI Sportline with all-wheel-drive. The 110TSI features as standard the Varioflex configuration that enables the complete removal of the back seats.

Late June sees the arrival of the new Scala hatchback. The Scala will be available from launch in Monte Carlo trim and specification. It will be joined by the final model in ŠKODA's SUV line-up - the Kamiq. The compact crossover is ŠKODA's first entrant in this segment.

The new generation Octavia range arrives early in 2021.

Driveaway prices for current models can be seen at www.skoda.com.au /