Skoda has taken the wraps off the India-bound Superb facelift. And yes, if you aren’t a car bore like us lot, you might have to strain your eyes to spot the changes. No points for guessing, the refreshed model receives a number of cosmetic changes inside and out. Apart from that, there are a couple of technology upgrades as well as a new plug-in hybrid variant.

Cosmetic changes first. Those headlights might look the same as before but they aren’t. The units are now slightly sleeker and instead of an old-school bi-xenon + LED arrangement, features full-LED matrix setup. Where did Skoda get the tech from? Audi, of course! The grille has also been to the drawing board and it now has double slats in its layout and dips deeper into the refreshed front bumper, which increases the overall length of the car by 8mm. At the back, the reprofiled LED-powered taillamp enclosures have a full-width chrome bar joining them and the brand’s badge has been replaced by the Skoda lettering.

Rounding off the exterior changes are a couple of new 18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs and a lengthier list of paint palettes including Crystal Black and Race Blue. Inside the cabin, there are new seat upholstery options on some trim levels along with chrome and decorative inserts for the dashboard and centre console. The storage places below the seats are now illuminated and, in the Laurin & Klement trim, the car will also come with headliner and central pillars finished in beige or black Alcantara. There are two new assistance systems on offer – Trailer Assist, which makes life easier while towing something, and Area View, which brings in a 360-degree view of the car – handy in tight spaces.

Over to the powertrain department. Depending on the market, the refreshed Skoda Superb will be offered with three petrol and diesel engine options. And, for the first time, a plug-in hybrid setup will be on offer too. The new tech is borrowed from the Superb’s step-sibling – the Volkswagen Passat GTE. It comprises of a 1.4-litre petrol engine which, all on its own, can produce 156PS and an electric motor which pumps out 115PS as a standalone. The total system output is 218PS which is around the same as its main rivals from Japan – the hybrid iterations of Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The electric motor gets its juices from a 13kWh battery, which is good enough for an all-electric range of 55km. Other tech details are awaited.

Sadly, the battery pack eats into the Superb’s boot space. At 485 litres, it is about 140 litres less than the non-electrified versions. Speaking of which, there will be a total of three petrol and diesel engine options each depending on the market. The petrol side will start with a 1.5-litre TSI with 150PS, which can be fed to the front wheels with either a 6-speed MT or a 7-speed DSG. The 2.0-litre TSI engine will be available in two tunes – 190PS and 272PS. While both will come with the aforementioned DSG unit, only the beefier one will get all-wheel-drive.

On the diesel front, the line-up will start with a 150PS, 1.6-litre mill which will come with a DSG unit. The larger 2.0-litre TDI engine will be offered in two states – 150PS (with manual or DSG unit) and 190PS (DSG only and with optional AWD). Skoda will start the market launch later this year and the Superb iV (the electrified variant) will go on sale early next year. Needless to say, the refreshed saloon will come to India and so will the plug-in hybrid variant.