The 2024 Skoda Superb Sleeper Edition has been revealed in Europe as the ultimate expression of the third-generation large car as the sun sets on yesteryear and rises on the new fourth-generation.
Created by Skoda UK, the Sleeper Edition started life as a range-topping Laurin & Klement 4x4 wagon (UK spec) before being sent off to British supercar tuner RE Performance.
The boffins in Swindon upgraded the turbocharger, fuel system, intake and intercooler before remapping the ECU so the new componentry worked together coherently, upping power and torque from 206kW/350Nm to a V8-busting 351kW/661Nm in the process.
Combine all this with the OE all-wheel drive system, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a recalibrated launch control system, the Superb Sleeper Edition is thought to be good for a sub-four-second 0-100km/h dash, putting it intriguingly close to hot factory-built wagons like the Audi RS 4 Avant and BMW M3 Touring.
Supporting the extra firepower is a bespoke coil-over suspension set-up – which lops up to 50mm out of the ride height – and a high-performance braking package (wider discs, bigger calipers).
The overhauled chassis negates the need for any old school strut braces to be fitted front or rear, meaning the Superb wagon’s vast 660-litre boot carries over unchanged.
Tragically but unsurprisingly, the Superb Sleeper Edition will not be offered for sale through official channels and is instead being used to celebrate the 860,000 third-generation Superbs sold since its release in 2015, making it comfortably the best-selling version to date.
Skoda could feasibly launch an RS version of the latest fourth-generation Superb somewhere down the line, but it’s unlikely to produce anything close to the Sleeper Edition’s mighty outputs.
The next-gen Skoda Superb should land in Australian dealerships early next year, with pricing and full details released closer to its local release.