Skoda has now confirmed that they will replace the 1.6L, petrol unit in the Rapid with a 1.0L, TSI petrol engine which will also come mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Power and torque figures are higher than before.
Last year, it was reported that the Volkswagen group’s 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine will be made locally as Skoda intended to achieve over 90% localisation for its models under the ‘India 2.0’ Strategy. Now, Skoda has confirmed that the Rapid sedan will be powered by the 1.0L, 3-cylinder TSI motor replacing the old 1.6L, petrol engine.
The new engine is expected to be introduced early next year and it will also be BS-VI compliant. Chances are that this is the only engine that will power the Rapid sedan from 2020 onwards as Volkswagen’s current 1.5L, diesel engine will not be updated to meet the stricter emission norms coming into effect from April 2020.
It has also been confirmed that this engine will, for the first time, have the option of being mated to a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox. Currently, only the diesel engine in the Rapid gets the option of the DSG gearbox while the 1.6L, petrol engine came with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
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In an interview with Autocar India, Zack Hollis, director – sales, service and marketing, Skoda Auto India, said that, “We will not have a diesel in the Rapid but will replace that with a very efficient petrol engine – a 1.0-litre TSI. It is an extremely efficient engine giving a much better fuel economy than the current MPI, which has often been criticized a little for the fuel economy and efficiency.”
In the international market, the 1.0L, TSI engine is available in two states of tune – 95hp/160Nm and 115hp/200Nm. In India, the Rapid will most likely get the latter state of tune for the engine. In that state of tune, the 1.0L, TSI engine is high on both power and torque than the current 1.6L petrol engine which makes 105hp and 153Nm of torque.
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This engine could also be equipped on Volkswagen’s new replacement for the Vento in India. This direct injection is more compact, lighter and generates less friction, thus having a higher operating efficiency. The Volkswagen group will not use a diesel engine in any of its small cars in India anymore. However, they are still studying the feasibility of upgrading their 2.0L, diesel engine to meet the upcoming BS-VI emission norms.
