Czech giant Skoda is set to join the space race with an eagerly anticipated estate based on the huge Superb. Our exclusive image is the best indication yet of how the new car will look when it’s officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October. Crucially, it’s the first time that Skoda has offered its flagship Superb line-up with a load-lugger. And our spies caught engineers testing a blue proto-type, which uses the Octavia bodywork to disguise its longer platform and higher roofline. This is the first proof the firm is working on a rival to the Volvo V70.Inside, the Superb Estate will offer even more load space than the hatch, which has an innovative ‘double opening’ tailgate, as revealed in Issue 1,003. As a result, the newcomer should be one of the class’s largest carriers.It will be virtually the same length as the standard Superb, measuring around 4,850mm. But because it’s taller and benefits from a revised rear bench, the estate promises far greater load-lugging ability. Drivers will have the choice of six VW-sourced engines: three petrols and three diesels.Entry-level models get the 105bhp 1.9 TDI oil-burner, while the flagship will take power from a 3.2-litre V6 delivering 260bhp. Five and six-speed gearboxes will be available, although bosses have also hinted that a slick-shifting, six-speed semi-automatic – based on Skoda parent company VW’s DSG transmission – will also be offered shortly after the car is launched. Speculation has been rife that the marque will introduce a four-wheel-drive version of the latest-generation model, but Skoda has not yet provided official confirmation of this. The Superb Estate is due to go on sale in UK showrooms early next year, and buyers can expect to pay a premium of around £1,500 over the hatchback. That would see the entry-level Classic version start from about £15,500.
