The new Skoda Rapid would reach the Indian shores later in 2021
Skoda auto has let a brand new cat out of the bag- the all-new 2020 Skoda Rapid was unveiled yesterday at St.Petersburg, Russia.
Skoda has tried out an off-centre design language for the new Skoda Rapid 2020, making it more stylish in and out, compared to the current model. The new Rapid 2020 has a sharper design overall, unlike the current version, although the notchback body is still left unchanged. The updated version comes with a restructured bumper, arrow-shaped LED headlights and sleeker fog lights as an add on to its vogue. The hexagonalized radiator grill along with a smaller footprint and an all-black air dam made wider by the higher positioning of lights, impart an aggressive as well as a dominant nature to the front fascia. And at the rear, the Skoda Rapid 2020 has an altered rear bumper and boot lid with the brand name inscribed on it (the second model to do this after the new Skoda Octavia) and stylish, slender and horizontally spread out crystalline tail lights. The flat roofline and bow-shaped greenhouse offer the traditional ‘classy sedan’ look to the new Skoda Rapid.
As you move to the interior, you’d probably be stunned by the all-black decorative panels, revamped dashboard and a floating 8 inches infotainment display. Furnished fabulously with ambient lights for the footwell, centre console, storage space in the doors, slimmer HVAC vents, and a completely digitalized instrument panel, the high toned sporty interior of Rapid 2020 will certainly blow your mind off. And for the steering wheel, the manufacturer offers you a conventional 3-spoke and a new 2-spoke design as well.
The Russian Spec Skoda Rapid comes with a 1.6 L naturally aspirated petrol engine in the 90 PS and 110 PS versions and also a 1.4 L turbocharged engine of 125 PS. The 90ps comes along with a 5-speed manual transmission whereas the 110PS goes for a 5 or 6- speed automatic units and the range-topping engine with a 7-speed DSG. And for the Indian, Skoda would most probably offer just a 1.0 TSI turbocharged petrol engine, good enough to churn out 115 PS and totally pliant to the BS6 emission norms. The Indian spec would be underpinned by the all-new MQB AO IN platform, conceived specifically for the country.
The new Skoda Rapid is to hit the Russian market around the first-quarter of 2020 at a price of around 8,29,000 RUB out the doors. And it seems the Indian gearheads will have to wait a bit longer till 2021 to have the all-new Skoda Rapid in their garages.
What will be the price??
Too early to comment on that. But let’s hope for a 8-12 lakhs range