The Skoda Superb, the jewel in the automotive crown of Bohemia, has been updated for the 2007 model year. Most striking change to the exterior is the updated radiator grille, which gives the prestige car a more three-dimensional design in line with the new face of Skoda.

Turn indicators have been integrated into the wing mirrors and the front indicators have been combined with the  headlamps. As in the new Roomster and the Octavia, the tail lights are C-shaped. Inside, there’s a new dashboard configuration on all trim levels. The instruments clusters are backlit with a gentle white light.

The equipment level portfolio – Classic, Comfort and Elegance – continues without modification and has been extended with the Laurin & Klement, a new top-of-the-range model. Named after the company’s founders, the L&K includes 17 inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust and special badging.

The vehicle’s interior includes leather seats, wood trim and sleek metal-finished frames on ventilation outlets and door handles. Pricing of this model is yet to be confirmed.

Superb continues to be available with three petrol and three diesel engines, with performance levels ranging from the 15hp 2.0 litre to the 2.8 V6 with 193 hp in the petrol engines and from 105 hp in the 1.9 TDI to 160 hp in the 2.5 V6 TDI in the turbo diesel engines.

Initially I have sampled the latter unit in the Elegance which costs £21,715. Elegance features lots of leather and wood, heated front and rear seats, electronically adjustable front seats with a memory facility for the driver and exterior mirrors, an electric sunroof, bi-xenon headlights and 17 inch alloy wheels.

Classic boasts climate control with additional vents to the rear seats, remote controlled central locking, electric windows all round with switches on the doors, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, an air conditioned glovebox, front and side airbags, six cupholders, metallic paint, 16 inch steel wheels and an audio system that includes a compact disc player and steering wheel mounted controls.

Comfort adds cruise control, rear parking sensors, alloy wheels and, wait for it – a Skoda umbrella with a holder in the rear door. This drains to the outside so that the umbrella can be put away while it is still wet. Other uses for the pot have been mentioned but they are best left to the imagination!

The dipped headlights stay on for 30 seconds when the doors are unlocked with the remote – and inside there is diffused night time interior illumination.

The ultra quiet V6 TDI engine generates 160 horsepower. Top speed is claimed to be more than 130 mph and the car can certainly be whisked up to 60 from standing in less than 10 seconds. The car is 16 feet long which means interior space is extremely generous.

Superb, built at a new £120 million plant at Kvasiny, carries a mechanical guarantee for three years or 60,000 miles and roadside assistance package for the same period. The car carries a two years’ factory warranty on mechanical parts with unlimited mileage followed by a third year (or 60,000 miles) provided to drivers in Britain. The anti-corrosion safeguard lasts for 10 years.