Skoda Auto India has launched the new Skoda Rapid in India with a new diesel unit and minor cosmetic updates. The launch takes place right in time for the festive season which Skoda, no doubt, wants to capitalise on. This is the Rapid’s first major upgrade since it was launched way back in 2011.
Changes made to the car limited to addition of a new diesel engine and the new dual-clutch automatic transmission that comes mated to it. Skoda will also offer a visual-upgrade package on the top-of-the-line variant for those who want to stand out from the crowd.
Price
The full variant wise price list for the new Skoda Rapid is as follows:
| Variant | Fuel Type | Transmission | Ex-showroom Price | |
| 1.6 MPI Active | Petrol | Manual | Rs. 7.22 Lakh | |
| 1.6 MPI Ambition Plus | Petrol | Manual | Rs. 8.32 Lakh | |
| 1.6 MPI Elegance | Petrol | Manual | Rs. 8.72 Lakh | |
| 1.6 MPI Elegance Black Package | Petrol | Manual | Rs. 8.85 Lakh | |
| 1.6 MPI Ambition Plus AT | Petrol | Automatic | Rs. 9.30 Lakh | |
| 1.6 MPI Elegance AT | Petrol | Automatic | Rs. 9.69 Lakh | |
| 1.6 MPI Elegance Black Package AT | Petrol | Automatic | Rs. 9.82 Lakh | |
| 1.5 TDI CR Active | Diesel | Manual | Rs. 8.39 Lakh | |
| 1.5 TDI CR Ambition Plus | Diesel | Manual | Rs. 9.40 Lakh | |
| 1.5 TDI CR Elegance | Diesel | Manual | Rs. 9.74 Lakh | |
| 1.5 TDI CR Elegance Black Package | Diesel | Manual | Rs. 9.87 Lakh | |
| 1.5 TDI CR Ambition Plus AT | Diesel | Automatic | Rs. 10.50 Lakh | |
| 1.5 TDI CR Elegance AT | Diesel | Automatic | Rs. 10.84 Lakh | |
| 1.5 TDI CR Elegance Black Package AT | Diesel | Automatic | Rs. 10.97 Lakh |
Design
In terms of exterior and interior design the new Skoda Rapid doesn’t see many changes except for a new alloy wheel design. Although, Skoda will offer a new customization package called the Black Package (shown in the photos in this story) available only on the top-end Elegance trim which includes:
- Black housing for the projector headlamp unit
- Black grille with a black logo
- Black 15 inch alloys
- Black surrounds for the front fog lamps
- Glossy black roof and black decals are optional
The Black package costs an extra Rs. 13,000 over the standard Elegance trim but it does not include the glossy black roof and black decals which are optional extras.
There are six colours on offer:
- Cappuccino Beige
- Toffee Brown (available November onwards)
- Flash Red
- Deep Black Pearl
- Candy White
- Brilliant Silver
The Black package is currently only available on the Candy White and Brilliant Silver paint shades. Also available on other shades on demand. Other additions to the feature list includes rear parking sensors, cruise control and a card holder.
Photos Gallery: Features
Engine & Transmission
This is the only department in which the company has made significant changes to the new Skoda Rapid but only on the diesel model which borrows the 1.5 litre TDI from the Volkswagen Vento and is mated to a 7 speed DSG automatic gearbox or a 5 speed manual. The engine puts out 103.5 BHP with a peak torque of 250 Nm. The manufacturer claims a fuel efficiency of 21.14 KMPL for the manual and 21.66 KMPL for the DSG autobox.
The petrol power unit is carried over from the outgoing car, the familiar 1.6 litre petrol producing 103.5 BHP and a peak torque of 153 Nm coupled with either a 5 speed manual or a 6 speed automatic transmission. Fuel efficiency stands at 15 KMPL for the manual and 14.3 KMPL for the automatic. Other than that there are no mechanical changes made to the new Skoda Rapid.
Launch
Dealers have started accepting bookings for the new Skoda Rapid with deliveries starting soon. It faces stiff competition from the likes of the Honda City, Volkswagen Vento, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Ciaz, Fiat Linea, Nissan Sunny and Renault Scala. The diesel automatic variant of the new Skoda Rapid will compete with the Verna diesel automatic and the Vento diesel automatic, the latter features the same engine and 7-speed DSG as the Rapid.
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