We’ve driven the 1.4 TSI and were very impressed by it, but for the corporate market, is it a risk putting such a small engine in a big car as the Superb?
“I think one of the biggest challenges when selling this car to corporate, is most people associate a 1.4 engine with a small or medium car from maybe 10 years ago, when that engine suited a small or medium car, but engine technology and the power you get from a turbocharged engine is so vastly different now. As you’ve seen yourself, there’s some really good power, but the efficiency of that car from a tax point of view, hasn’t been compromised by the bhp.”
Do you see the big opportunity corporate-wise, as far as sales are concerned for the new Superb, to be the 2.0-litre TDI diesel 150?
“It’s hard to say, but the SE Business 150 is key, as high-powered engines have gone well for us. By the end of the year, we’ll have the new Greenline engine and that engine will take buyers below the 95g/km level of CO2, which from a tax benefit point of view, is quite significant. So to start with, the core of our market will select that 150 engine, but when the Greenline version comes in, it might prove attractive to people who want that tax efficiency.”
Do you think Greenline will be more important moving forward for the SME company car buyer?
“I think so, moving forward. We’ve got a new government and they’re looking to do more and more green-friendly policies and laws. I think Greenline is an absolute must moving forward, maybe not right now, but in the future. There’s talk that by 2050, that they’ll be zero emissions; in 2015 that seems a long way away, but this is the start giving customers a greener choice.”
The new Superb is a real move upwards in terms of style, do you see this as a conquest car? Or do you see this car appealing to a typical Volkswagen Group buyer?
“I think this car will retain that core loyalty, but with the new design that’s been created, the new Superb is all about conquest. We do want to try to get new people in the car – it does turn heads!
“From a style point of view, we hope it’s something that will attract people over the old car. Although clearly we want to keep our loyal buyers happy at the same time – the cost value relationships is something we know they value dearly.
“We’re trying to get people out of their Fords and Vauxhalls!”
With its smarter looks, do you think the Superb is a strong enough package to take sales from premium rivals such as the Audi A4 or BMW 3-Series?
“Our customers will tell us ultimately, but we’ve set out to pitch ourselves against Ford and Vauxhall’s share. To turn the heads of those drivers towards a Skoda, if BMW drivers, Mercedes drivers, or whatever other premium manufacturer it might be, it makes them think that for the money, they could get a bigger car with a better spec, then if they choose to do that , all the better for us. We’ve pitched ourselves at the mass market – that’s where the volume is. Anything else would make me smile all day long.”
