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“The preparations for the production of our upcoming second-generation Kodiaq are already in full swing. As is typical for Škoda, we are once again using existing infrastructure while cleverly integrating new technologies. However, comprehensively adapting and further future-proofing an assembly line that remains in operation is a highly demanding task both technically and logistically. At the same time, we have also successfully redistributed and optimised our model production and were thus able to free up additional capacity.”

Michael Oeljeklaus, Škoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics

The new Kodiaq will also be available as a plug-in hybrid – preparations are already in full swing
As with its predecessor, the new model will be manufactured at the Kvasiny plant on the same production line as the Karoq, Superb and Superb iV. The new-generation Superb will start rolling off the production line in Bratislava in early 2024, thus freeing up capacity for some 150,000 additional units of the popular Kodiaq and Karoq SUVs annually.

The car manufacturer is investing around 12 million euros in converting the production line to also take account of future requirements, with the line already being prepared to produce the Kodiaq iV with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. The investments involve the integration of existing technologies such as manipulators, chassis assembly and conveyors, and the modification of robots for window-glue application. Up to 410 second-generation Kodiaqs should then roll off the assembly line every day.

“Real-world testing in the toughest possible environmental conditions remains a crucial part of new-vehicle development, despite the advances in computer simulation. Our extensive test programmes in desert climates with extremely high temperatures on the one hand and on the other hand in the Arctic Circle ensure that Škoda customers can rely 100 percent on their vehicles in any weather conditions. At the same time, these tests give us the opportunity to identify optimization needs as early as possible and to design the vehicles in the best possible way to meet the requirements of everyday operation.”

Johannes Neft, Škoda Auto Board Member for Technical Development

Comprehensive range of tests covering all vehicle aspects
Intensive test drives in extreme cold conditions are part of the standard programme for new-vehicle development. Škoda Auto regularly conducts such tests in the Arctic Circle, where the fourth-generation Škoda Superb and the second generation of the Kodiaq SUV have now proven that they can cope with any winter challenge. Every part of the test vehicles was scrutinised: chassis, body, engine, heating, and the entire electrical system.

Vehicle performance in snowy conditions
To assess the vehicles’ general winter performance, Škoda Auto examines the impact of snow on the bodywork as well as the effects of snow entering the engine compartment and air intakes. All mechanical functions of the vehicle body as well as the electrics must perform flawlessly even at temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius, and the engine should start without problems at temperatures close to minus 30 degrees. All doors, the bonnet, and the tailgate as well as the fuel filler cap and the cover of the charging socket on PHEV vehicles must be capable of opening even under such adverse conditions.

Tests examining driving behaviour and assistance systems
Numerous aspects of vehicle behaviour are assessed during real-world driving – for example, how well the vehicle copes with slush on the road, or how the front and rear bumpers perform when the vehicle hits a snow barrier. Driving over blocks of ice tests the robustness of the suspension and underbody. The test drivers check how the vehicles behave on icy and snowy roads and how well the assistance systems work. The testers evaluate the cars’ driving dynamics, the performance of the all-wheel drive, if applicable, and the functional characteristics and ride comfort of the suspension. They check whether the transmission shifts faultlessly and whether the windscreen wipers and washers work. The vehicle lighting at night and the acoustic behaviour of frozen vehicle parts are also tested. High-voltage batteries of PHEV vehicles are charged in a frozen state, followed by a determination of the maximum range. To precisely assess the vehicles’ durability in winter conditions, the test drivers cover tens of thousands of kilometres.

Testing interior functions
The test programme also looks at many interior functions, for example the performance of the heating system at extremely cold outside temperatures and the level of thermal comfort in the interior. The testers also check whether the windows mist up and how quickly they can be defrosted. Furthermore, they also evaluate whether the heating systems for the seats, the steering wheel, exterior mirrors, windscreen, and rear window perform as expected. Where applicable they also test the optional auxiliary heating. In addition, the drivers check how well the central touchscreen responds when the vehicle’s interior temperature has dropped below zero.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Historic Škoda Superb, 1934-1949
By the time the historic Superb went into production in 1934, Škoda had already produced several top-of-the-range models. However, the Superb was innovative in many ways; the onboard wiring worked with a then-new 12 V system, which is still used in cars today. Along with its contemporaries, the Superb was based on an innovatively designed chassis. The traditional longitudinal frame with a channel section was replaced by an advanced backbone frame with a central tube, dividing into two beams at the front. This design not only allowed the driveshaft to be housed in the frame’s tube but also created more room for the independent suspension, which ensured superior ride comfort. The Superb was also the brand’s first model to feature single-circuit hydraulic brakes with equal action on all four wheels. During production, engines with the recently developed OHV valve train began to be installed in Superb cars in 1938. And unlike some of its predecessors, such as the luxury Hispano-Suiza, the Superb was developed entirely in-house at Škoda. The bodywork, which underwent considerable modernisation in 1939, was built of a timber-framed wooden body with outer metal sheet panels, allowing the Superb to be manufactured in a variety of body styles; five civilian and three military versions were rolled out during its 13-year production period. It was available with SV or OHV engines with outputs ranging from 40.5 to 70.7 kW and displacements from 2,492 to 3,991 cm³. Most of the engines had six cylinders, the exception being the Superb 4000, which featured a V8-cylinder engine under the bonnet. This meant the Superb 4000 had the most power and the largest displacement in the series. One of the few surviving Superb 4000s is now among the most valuable exhibits of the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav. Around 900 civilian and 1,600 military vehicles of all Superb variants were produced between 1934 and 1949.

Return of the flagship, 2001-2008
2001 was a year of many highlights for the Škoda brand, including its ten-year anniversary under the wing of the Volkswagen Group. The Škoda Fabia was launched as a saloon, with Škoda also introducing its signature Simply Clever concept of practical innovations. The main event of the year, however, was the presentation of the Superb hatchback after a 50-year hiatus. This raised the Škoda brand’s profile, positioning it among the manufacturers of upper-mid-class cars. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in September 2001, the first-generation Superb was built on the PL 45 chassis platform. This was widened by 100 mm for the Škoda Superb, giving it an exceptionally spacious interior. The series also boasted a comprehensive range of engines; the first modern generation of the Superb offered both petrol and diesel powertrains, ranging from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo with 110 kW (150 hp) to the top version – a 2.8-litre V6 with 142 kW (193 hp). It brought with it several firsts for the Škoda brand, including bi-xenon headlamps, Tiptronic automatic transmission, the Coming Home lighting system and electronically controlled brake assist, which enhanced the braking action. The multi-link front suspension and longitudinally mounted engines were also unique among Škoda cars. In 2006, the first-generation Superb underwent a facelift, which integrated the trademark C-shaped rear-light concept.