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Martin Barrow-Starkey: “We’ve pitched ourselves at the mass market. Anything else would make me smile all day long.”

Skoda Superb
The new Superb estate has plenty to offer business customers

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3 August 2015

Martin Barrow-Starkey
Barrow-Starkey

SKODA are serious about taking SME sales from Ford and Vauxhall with the new Superb. So, how do they think they’re going to do it?

At the launch of the new Skoda Superb I managed to catch up with Skoda’s head of sales, Martin Barrow-Starkey, to find out more…

The new Superb is predominantly a fleet car isn’t it?

“Yes, it’s probably a 70:30 split between fleet and retail for us.”

What’s the opportunity for the SME with the new car over rivals?

“I think for an SME, the new Superb is quite an adaptive car, but space is obviously key.

“It’s also a smart-looking car that’s a good reflection on your business. Mainly though it’s a practical car – Skoda has prided itself on having practical cars.”

The Superb has always been a practical car, but the third-generation model adds another dose of style on top – doesn’t it?

“Absolutely, the current Superb is six-years old – all the technology you see in other cars has been brought into this model. Things like the virtual foot pedal for opening the boot and the power tow bar.

“So, if you’ve got a small business, there will probably be an occasion where you might need to tow something, or you might need to fold down the rear seats.

“Equally you might need to show someone round in a presentable car and create the right impression; this car fits all these bills.”

Do you have any idea of what the corporate take up will be between diesel and petrol power?

“The old Superb was predominantly a diesel car, though with all the modern technologies now and legislation I guess, that might swing it back towards petrol power. Previously it was 90:10 diesel, but more efficient petrol engines could change that, although I think it will be largely a diesel car for the foreseeable future.

“We’ve got a selection of petrols for people who want something a bit sharper. People have that choice, but if legislation changes, which has been mooted in the background, then we’ve got that option as well.”

Like the last, do you think the estate version of the new Superb will be more popular than the saloon?

“The challenge we had with the old Superb, was with the TwinDoor mechanism of the old hatch, which was a bit marmite. Some people loved it, some people hated it; it was also quite heavy. One of the good things about taking that away, is that it’s one of the big contributors to making this car 75kg lighter.

“I also I think people weren’t so sure about the styling of the old hatch. I think that’s gone now, I think we’ve now got a car that people will be comfortable with – whether it’s a hatch or estate. I think the estate will do very well though, but we’d like it to be a more even split than before.”

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