I've been privy to some technical information on the new Superb which I thought might interest potential purchasers -

Many of the chassis components are shared with the A5 Chassis Octavia.

System for drying brake discs (RBS)

Skoda have recognised that in the wet vital braking efficiency is lost by the brake discs being wet. This system will apply the front brakes at low force (un noticable to the driver) for a period of 3 seconds every 3km when the wipers are on and vehicle speed is over 70kmh.

Trailer Stability System (TSA)

This senses the swaying motion caused by a wayward trailer and uses the car ESP system to gently brake the front wheels, if this doesn't correct the movement the rear wheels are braked too.

Air Quality Sensor (AQS)

The sensor can detect pollutants through chemical reaction and determine whether fresh or recirculated air flows into the interior.

Park Distance Control (PDC)

The volume and tone of the PDC can be adapted via the dash insert allowing the driver to choose the sound which identifies an obstacle.

Tourist Light

Operated via maxidot, the user can select the correct head lighting for overseas driving.

Also coding of some control modules must be done with a connection to an onine server - Not sure how this will affect VAG-COM/VCDS users.

Thanks for the information Stu. I knew about some of these, but not all.

The VAG-COM/online stuff is interesting. There are two possibilities I can see:

1) They're maintaining a database of what features a particular car can and can't have configured, and then only allowing the dealer equipment to control those features. Probably makes it easier to avoid mistakes, and ensure that the car is always running the factory settings.

2) They are trying to make life difficult for people with third party diagnostic tools.

I guess they could even digitally sign the update process, so that only authorised dealers can modify the car configuration. That makes sense for anything security related (SKC etc.), but I thought this was all done online anyway.

I certainly hope that VAG aren't turning into 'Big Brother' on us.

Bagpuss.

It actually says -

Starting with the introduction of the ŠkodaSuperb II, the coding of some control units is only possible with a diagnosis unit using an online connection.

The coding of these control units can in future no longer be performed without active online connection.

It goes quite deeply into the details surrounding the corner light functions and the Bluetooth Preperations.

Hmm. Do you think it could be related to legislative requirements?

I can certainly think of configuration changes to AFS that might make the light beams illegal.

No I just think it's part of the introduction of streamlined systems at the dealerships. They can interrogate a car over the data connection, identify the exact configuaration and apply the coding to match. It may also relate to items such as the immobilisor systems that require security logins.

I think whatever they do they must make provision for an alternative method else they'd be sailing a little close the legal wind.

I guess it just means that the dealer equipment no longer has details of what coding needs to be applied for a specific feature, without actually going online.

This would still be okay for the folks at RossTech, as long as they can work out what the various bits mean in the module configuration.

If there is also an element of module authentication, then I guess VAGCOM would be stuffed.

Bagpuss.

bring back the old points and condensor lol