Skoda has opened bookings for the Rapid TSI Automatic for a refundable deposit amount of Rs 25,000. Its a 6-speed torque converter automatic unit and will be available from the second-in-line Rider Plus variant.
Skoda launched the 2020 BS6 Rapid with a new 1.0L TSI engine earlier this year with a manual gearbox and now the automatic variant is soon coming your way. Skoda has opened bookings for the BS6 Rapid Automatic. You can book your Rapid AT at any of Skoda authorized dealership as well as on the Skoda Auto India website, for a refundable deposit of Rs 25,000. Skoda is expected to launch the Rapid AT in a couple of weeks time with the deliveries slated to begin from September 18, 2020.
The manual Skoda Rapid 1.0L TSI is currently offered in six variants – Rider, Rider Plus, Ambition, Onyx, Style, and Monte Carlo. Skoda will offer the automatic gearbox on all variants of the Rapid except for the base Rider variant. The Rapid AT range will thus start from the Rider Plus variant and it is expected to cost about Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh more than the equivalent manual variant. The Skoda Rapid AT will rival other automatic sedans in this segment which include the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Verna, Honda City and Volkswagen Vento as well.
The 1.0L TSI unit under the hood of the Rapid is a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit that produces 108 bhp at 5250 rpm and 175 Nm at 1750-4000 rpm. The new automatic gearbox option will be a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. In fact, its the same 6-speed torque converter unit that does duty on the Volkswagen Vento 1.0L TSI. Skoda has also revealed that the Rapid automatic’s ARAI-rated fuel efficiency is pegged at 16.24kpl.
Also Read : DC2 Launches Custom Interior Packages for Toyota Fortuner and Innova!
The 1.0L TSI engine returns a claimed fuel efficiency figure of 18.97kpl with the manual gearbox. To give you a perpective, the earlier BS4-compliant, 105hp, 1.6 MPI petrol engine only returned 14.84kpl with the 6-speed AT gearbox. Skoda also used to offer a dual-clutch transmission with the BS4-spec diesel engine of the Rapid but that of course has been discontinued and there are no talks about a DCT gearbox in the Rapid anymore. Other than the new transmission, the design, interiors and features will all remain identical to that of the manual variants.
Also Read : Here’s a Real World Driving Range Test for the Hyundai Kona EV!
Features onboard include 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, electric ORVMs, LED projector headlamp with integrated LED DRLs, black ORVMs & a black roof (Monte Carlo only), trunk spoiler, rear parking sensors, rear parking camera, flat-bottom steering wheel (Monte Carlo only), automatic AC, steering wheel mounted audio controls, leather upholstery and much more. For safety, it will offer dual airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control and Hill Hold Control. The car is currently priced in India at Rs 7.49 lakh to Rs 11.79 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
