Skoda Rapid to get an upgrade in India this year

Snapshot: Skoda India will launch three facelifted products over the next year or so. The facelifted Superb luxury saloon will be the first in the trio of launches that Skoda has planned for India. The other two launches are the facelifted Yeti SUV and the Rapid C-Segment sedan. The Rapid sedan is likely to adopt styling borrowed from its Euro-spec variant, along with a new 1.2 liter TSI petrol engine and a DSG dual clutch automatic gearbox.

Although the Rapid C-Segment sedan is Skoda India’s best selling car model, sales have been rapidly slipping. A facelift is on the cards with Skoda India’s CEO Mr Sudhir Rao confirming the same. While a special edition version of the Rapid called the Ultima edition is due soon, a more comprehensive update that includes design and mechanical changes is likely to arrive into India by the end of this year.

The updated Rapid is expected to follow Skoda’s new global design language. In line with that, expect the front and rear ends of the Euro-spec Rapid to make it to the Indian version. In a nutshell, the design changes are likely to make the facelifted Rapid look more like a baby-Octavia. The fresher looks could drive a good chunk of C-Segment sedan buyers who prefer understated yet classy styling to Skoda showrooms in India.

The facelifted Skoda Rapid is also likely to see mechanical changes. The 1.2 liter TSI turbo petrol engine that does duty in the likes of the Polo GT and the Vento TSI cars is likely to make it into the engine bay of the facelifted Rapid. This engine outputs 104 Bhp-175 Nm and is known to be a punchy performer. As is the case with the Vento sedan, the TSI turbo petrol engine will be paired to a DQ200 7 Speed DSG dual clutch gearbox in the Rapid Facelift.

The 1.6 liter TDI turbo diesel engine and 5 speed manual gearbox combination is likely to be carried over unchanged. The 1.6 liter TDI turbo diesel engine outputs 104 Bhp-250 Nm and the torque output makes it one of the torquiest turbo diesel engines to power C-Segment cars in India. Along with the visual and mechanical changes, the Rapid Facelift is likely to get a few additional features on the inside.

Source TheHindu