Upgraded Skoda Rapid Sedan Car Launched in India

Skoda India has given the Rapid mild cosmetic upgrades while the engine and transmission have received more comprehensive changes. The upgraded Rapid was launched yesterday and has now gone on sale across the country. The car’s price range starts from 7.22 lakh rupees, ex-showroom Delhi, going all the way up to 10.97 lakh rupees. The launch of the upgraded Rapid comes just a day after Volkswagen India launched the facelifted Vento here. Notably, the Rapid is the badge engineered sibling of the Vento, and shares the production line with the latter at Volkswagen India’s Chakan factory, off Pune.

In terms of cosmetic changes, the Rapid’s highline variants can be specified with a Elegance Black Package that is a dealer level fitment. This package brings smoked projector headlamps and fog lamps, blacked out grille, revised alloy wheels, contrast black finish for the roof, and black wing mirror housings, to the table. In terms of mechanicals, the petrol powered Rapid is unchanged, with the 1.6 liter-4 cylinder MPI motor continuing to be offered, along with 5 speed manual and 6 speed automatic transmissions. The diesel powered Rapid gets a new engine, in the form of the downsized 1.5 liter TDI turbo diesel unit.

However, the downsizing of the diesel engine hasn’t resulted in power and torque levels dipping, as they remain on par with the outgoing, 1.6 liter TDI engine, at 103 Bhp and 250 Nm. While a 5 speed manual gearbox is standard fare with the 1.5 liter TDI diesel motor, an optional 7 speed dual clutch DSG automatic gearbox is another major addition, and one that is aimed squarely at driving enthusiasts who want a torquey diesel C-Segment sedan that offers a sporty shifting automatic gearbox. In terms of features, cruise control, electronic stability program and hill start assist are major additions.

Here are the upgraded Skoda Rapid’s variant wise, ex-showroom Delhi prices,

Rapid Petrol 1.6 MT

Active – 7.22 lakh rupees, Ambition+ – 8.17 lakh rupees, Elegance – 8.72 lakh rupees, Elegance Black Package – 8.85 lakh rupees.

Rapid Petrol 1.6 AT

Ambition+ – 9.15 lakh rupees, Elegance – 9.69 lakh rupees, Elegance Black Package – 9.82 lakh rupees.

Rapid Diesel 1.5 TDI MT

Active – 8.39 lakh rupees, Ambition+ – 9.35 lakh rupees, Elegance – 9.74 lakh rupeees, Elegance Black Package – 9.87 lakh rupees.

Rapid Diesel 1.5 TDI AT

Ambition+ – 10.34 lakh rupees, Elegance – 10.84 lakh rupees, Elegance Black Package – 10.97 lakh rupees.

Although the Skoda Rapid is the Volkswagen Vento in different clothes and with a slightly lower price tag, variant to variant, Skoda India isn’t offering the 1.2 liter TSI turbo petrol-7 speed DSG automatic powertrain combination on the former. This omission is clearly a demarcating factor that seeks to separate the Vento and the Rapid, until both cars go in for more comprehensive makeovers. A facelifted Rapid is expected to hit Indian roads within the next year or so, with its exteriors completely revamped. The car will continue to lead Skoda’s charge into India, as the Czech automaker’s entry level model.