Škoda Rapid (2017)

Škoda Rapid
Overview
Manufacturer	Template:Škoda India
Production	2017–present
Assembly	Pune(India)
Body and chassis
Class	Sedan
Body style	4-door Sedan[1]
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Related	Volkswagen Vento
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L MPI Active (Petrol) 1.6 L MPI Ambition (Petrol) 1.6 L MPI Style (Petrol) 1.5 L TDI CR Active (Diesel) 1.5 L TDI CR Ambition (Diesel) 1.5 L TDI CR Style (Diesel)
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed automatic 7-speed automatic DSG
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,552 mm (100.5 in)
Length	4,413 mm (173.7 in) (Sedan)
Width	1,699 mm (66.9 in)
Height	1,466 mm (57.7 in) (Sedan)
Chronology
Predecessor	Škoda Rapid (2011) TSI/TDI

Current Škoda Rapid made since 2017 is the successor to Škoda Rapid (2011). Rapid is the moniker that is being used by the Czech auto manufacturer for its vehicle since 1930’s. The Škoda Rapid is now available in hatchback and sedan versions. Škoda launched the Rapid sedan in India in the year 2011. The Škoda Rapid sedan is essentially based on the Skoda Fabia hatchback vehicle. The Rapid is a popular premium sedan in the car market of India. The Czech auto major launched the new updated Škoda Rapid sedan in the Indian car market in November 2016. The new Škoda Rapid facelift^[2] model comes with an array of changes and updates to help it enhance its appeal to the customers and to increase the sales volumes.

Exterior

The new updated Škoda Rapid^[3] has been endowed with a new front fascia that is in line with Skoda's new design language that has been used on its new family of cars such as the new Octavia, new Superb and the car maker’s latest Kodiaq SUV. The new Rapid facelift’s fresh front end comes with a newly styled radiator grille that is surrounded by a chrome finished frame and new angular headlight design to appear sharper than before and to enhance the aggressive visual appeal. The sedan model also gets a new bumper design that is sharper than before and houses a large honeycomb air intake that further enhances the sharper and bolder appeal, while fog lamps are placed on either side of the air intake. The new updated Rapid also comes endowed with some mild updates on its rear design. The updates on the car’s back design include a restyled bumper and a new chrome strip on the car’s boot lid. Skoda has also endowed a new boot lip spoiler and revised tail lamps to offer a fresher look for the rear façade of the facelift Rapid. The side profile of the sedan remains unchanged, excepting for the redesigned alloy wheels. The range topping variants of the sedan also offers LED daytime running lights which are integrated to the dual barrel headlamp setup of the car. All these design updates make the new updated Skoda Rapid look and feel more contemporary, premium and stylish than the previous model.

Interior

The new updated Skoda Rapid sedan offers a very well-appointed cabin design. The classy looking interiors with nice fit and finish are like that of its German sibling and market rival, the Volkswagen Vento. The cabin of the Rapid has also been improved with some upgrades and changes to match its fresher exterior. The car offers a very spacious and comfortable cabin with nice well-supportive seating arrangement and ample legroom to offer a comfortable drive experience for all the occupants. The sedan also gets some added features such as cruise control system, light sensing automatic headlamps and rain sensing automatic wipers. The top of the line variant of the Rapid sedan offers a 6.5-inch touchscreen integrated infotainment system that comes along with MirrorLink feature that allows one to put all the smartphone content on to the automobile’s display. There are also the standard connectivity options such as AUX, USB and Bluetooth. Other features include Automatic Climate Control, Multi-function Steering Wheel and more.

Safety features

To ensure the safety of its occupants, the Skoda Rapid comes with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Dual Front Airbags that are offered as standard safety equipments on all the variants. The sedan also comes with the safety and security features of Rear Parking Sensors, Central Locking System, Engine Immobilizer, Door Ajar Warning, Brake Assist, Front and Side Impact beams, Crash Sensor, etc.

Engine and transmission

The Skoda Rapid is offered for sale in India in both petrol and diesel versions. The new updated Skoda Rapid’s petrol gets powered by the familiar 1.6-liter petrol motor that has the capability to generate a maximum power output of 105

Bhp along with 153 Nm of top torque. The petrol engine gets equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox as well as a 6-speed automatic transmission gearbox.

The Rapid facelift has come equipped with a new diesel engine, which is its primary attraction for the diesel version. The sedan comes powered by a new 1.5 liter 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine that can deliver a peak power output of 109 Bhp along with 250 Nm of top torque. This diesel mill is also paired with a standard 5 speed manual transmission gearbox, while it also offers the choice of a 7 speed DSG transmission gearbox.

Specifications

Petrol engines

Diesel engines

Mileage

The Skoda Rapid petrol offers a fuel efficiency of a maximum 14.3 km per liter on the automatic transmission and 15 km per liter on the manual transmission variants. On the other hand, for the diesel version the company claims a mileage of 21.13 km per liter on the manual transmission variant and 21.72 km per liter on the automatic transmission model.

Market Competition

The Skoda Rapid sedan competes with some very well established and bestselling models in the Indian C-segment, such as the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, the Honda City and the Volkswagen Vento. The Rapid sedan also shares its platform as well as engine range with its German competitor, the Volkswagen Vento. Although the Rapid has been a highly popular product from Skoda and a major sales volume drawer in India, its popularity is not even closely comparable to the top sellers of the C-segment of India.

Pricing

The new updated Skoda Rapid sedan’s petrol range has a price range that starts at Rs. 8.27 lakhs that goes up to Rs. 11.36 lakhs for the top model, while the diesel variants have a price range starting at Rs.9.48 lakhs that goes up to Rs. 12.67 lakhs for the range topping model. The Czech car manufacturing company offers 4 years of warranty on all its automobile models and provides road side assistance and the company’s maintenance package.

Skoda has also showcased the new refreshed Rapid in its sporty Monte Carlo version at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show. Skoda will be intruding the Rapid Monte Carlo trim in the Indian market within 2017.

References

External links

• Škoda Rapid – Škoda India
• Autocar – Autocar India
• Review – Top Gear Magazine