In a shock move that embraces the cult Q-car following of the high performance Superb, Škoda UK has unveiled a one-off special: the Sleeper Edition. This unique variant is based on the venerable Superb Estate 2.0 TSI 280PS 4x4, and is a final tribute to the third-generation model. Police Pursuit drivers up and down the country must be chomping at the bit to hunt down some Blaggers in one of these.

The original Superb Estate 280PS launched in 2016, and became the brand's most powerful production car at the time, delivering 276 bhp and 258 lb ft (350 Nm) of torque from its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. This model was revered not only for its impressive output but also for its blend of practicality, but for its practically anonymous styling too - a true sleeper in every sense. The Sleeper Edition takes this concept to new heights, introducing a range of performance upgrades that transform the car into a genuine high-performance machine while maintaining its understated exterior.

At the heart of the Sleeper Edition is a significantly reworked version of the 2.0 TSI engine. The evergreen powerplant now produces a remarkable 470 bhp, and this extraordinary leap in power is the work of RE Performance - the team responsible for the Octavia that set a Land Speed Record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2011.

Key to this transformation is the fitment of a larger Garrett turbocharger, an upgraded fuel system, plus enhancements to the intake and intercooler, ensuring that the engine breathes more efficiently and remains thermally stable under the additional load. These modifications culminate in a formidable torque figure of 488 lb ft (661 Nm) which is channelled through the car's all-wheel-drive system, promising exceptional acceleration and all-weather capability.

While the powertrain modifications are certainly headline-grabbing, equal attention has been paid to the Sleeper Edition's handling. The ride height has been lowered by 50mm, courtesy of the fitment of fully adjustable KW coilover suspension, and the tyres meanwhile, have been upgrades to some sticky Yokohama's. The hunkered down stance is perhaps the only visual clue as to the car's hidden potential - dare we say we’d probably raise the car a touch to keep the public guessing.

Stopping power has also been significantly upgraded to match the vehicle's newfound performance. The Superb Sleeper Edition is equipped with an AP Racing big brake kit featuring larger grooved discs and uprated callipers, ensuring the Sleeper Edition has the slow to match the go.

True to its "sleeper" moniker, the exterior styling of the Superb Sleeper Edition remains indistinguishable from its standard counterpart, owing to the fact that it is based on the top-spec Lauren & Klement specification, rather than carrying the go-faster pretence of the Sportline models. The exterior is painted in Royal Green - a colour introduced in 2023 to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III - and is paired up with a Cognac Tan interior, complimenting the understated performance with some understated luxury.

The performance makeover doesn’t suddenly mean the Superb has come over all uncouth either as it retains a cavernous 660 litre boot that expands to 1,950 litres with rear seats down, so there is ample space for the obligatory dog that is always carried in the back of a fast estate. The Sleeper Edition recalls early German uber performance cars like the E34 M5 Touring and Audi RS2, reminding us what we’re missing with the constant race for bigger air intake, bigger alloys and fake exhaust outlets. Skoda has clearly taken a leaf out of Alpina's book for how to create a subtly sensible performance car. Unfortunately the Sleeper Edition is forbidden fruit with only one being made, and that makes us sad. 

Although the Superb Sleeper Edition will not reach the hands of customers, its existence within Škoda UK’s press fleet will undoubtedly spark interest and admiration among enthusiasts and the Boys in Blue alike. We absolutely cannot wait to see it in action.