With an independent suspension and a 55-horsepower 2.5-liter six-banger, the original Skoda 640 Superb is seen as the forefather of the modern iteration.

However, despite its advanced, for the time, tech only 200 examples ran off the line, and the Czech manufacturer left the moniker untouched until 2001, when the first generation was introduced to rival the likes of the VW Passat and Ford Mondeo.

Slotting in the brand’s range straight at the top, the new-age Superb managed to establish itself in the segment with the largest space in the segment, sharp exterior lines, modern assistance systems for safety and comfort, and economical engines. Based on the VW Group’s B5 platform, the first-gen Superb stayed in production until 2008, when its successor was unveiled in Geneva.

Offered in 5-door saloon and estate body styles and underpinned by a new architecture, the Superb B6 continued the success of its predecessor until last year, when it was replaced by the the Superb B8 that’s riding on the VW Group’s modular MQB platform.

The popularity of the brand’s flagship that sits just above the Octavia is underlined by the production figures, as more than 900,000 examples have been made since the original Superb was introduced 15 years ago, including over 100,000 units of the latest generation.

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