irishcar.com - Skoda Superb first view

It is, perhaps, the motoring equivalent of a modern rags-to-riches story. Skoda, the former bargain basement car, the butt of the harshest jokes, the byword for cheap but not cheerful, is planning to take on the toffs.

Its new motor, the Superb, is due here in July and will have the style and substance of a luxury executive motor.

It looks more compact than it is. The inside is huge. The space derives mainly from is 4.8 metre length; rear seat passengers are treated to near limousine leg, knee and headroom.

Yes folks, you’ve just read the words ‘limousine’ and Skoda in the same sentence. If someone wrote that five years ago, it would have been dubbed the latest Skoda joke or the author ridiculed mercilessly. But one thing maintains a link with the past. This will sell on value-for-money. Expect it to cost thousands of euros less than the least expensive of the direct competition Where most key competitors start around the 36,000 euro mark, Skoda say theirs will kick off under 30,000 euro.

Perhaps we better take a break here. This is getting too much. Limousine and 30,000 euro. Isn’t it stretching credulity just a bit too far?

Well, they are bringing in the car here in July and the starting price will be under the 30,000 euro mark, so we’d better believe it.

How will buyers react to an executive Skoda? A bit like ourselves, I suppose.

First with a sense of unreality. And then with the growing realisation that they have done at this level what they have done at supermini and family car rank with the Fabia and Octavia respectively. Picked the best of the Volkswagen silverware on offer and come up with their own collection. And the attributes of the VW heritage will play a big part in convincing potential buyers that they can repeat the performance at this level.

Perhaps the single greatest surprise comes in driving the car. It looks quite compact on the outside – rather like a large VW Passat with that unmistakable elongated half-moon roofline. But the length, as I’ve said, permits a massive amount of interior space with rear seat passengers particularly well looked after.

On the road it had an easy, comfortable feel with the 1.9Tdi 130bhp version stealing the show over a variety of roads and traffic conditions. It had poise, plenty of power and all the icons of comfort and safety technology we associate with the class.

And you can take the range of engines it intends bringing in as an indication of the sort of ‘attack’ (a Skoda word used at the international launch) on the market.

For Ireland, there will be six power plants - three petrol and three diesels. You’ll know them all in some way or other from the VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda line-ups. The petrols start with a 1.8-litre turbo (150bhp), there’s a 2-litre (115bhp) and a top-of-the-range V6 2.8 (193bhp). The diesels have the 1.9Tdi double act -up – one with 100bhp, one with 130bhp - and a 2.5-litre V6 with 155bhp and six-speed transmission. Tiptronic 5-speed automatic transmission is an option on V6 petrols and diesels.

There will be three equipment levels – Classic, Comfort and Elegance. Apart from the conventional equipment and executive paraphernalia (ABS, traction control, bi-xenon headlights and much more) there are one or two unusual additions.

One is an umbrella holder in the left rear door: a special duct allows the brolly water to be drained to the outside. This comes free with the two top specifications. Another one lets rear seat passengers put their feet up – an optional padded panel drops from behind the front seat backrest and you can stretch out and relax. The third is clever device in the boot to keep fragile items from being tossed around.

It is also virtually certain that a lifetime warranty be included with cars sold here. This includes covering costs such as towing in the event of a breakdown, hotel accommodation, substitute transport etc.

That sends a strong message on two fronts. The makers are confident the car will give little trouble.

And Skoda intend being around in this segment for a long time.