Skoda Rapid facelift bookings start in India
Skoda is gearing up to launch the Rapid facelift in India on November 3, 2016. This has been confirmed to us by official dealers across the country. While Skoda has declined to make official comments on the same, the new Rapid has been recently spotted without any camouflage. Skoda dealerships have already started taking bookings with a token amount of Rs 25,000.
The test mules spotted earlier had already revealed the new headlight design. The new images showcase the new radiator grille which looks similar to that of the present-generation Skoda Octavia, giving the sedan a familiar look. Additionally, new projector headlights will be offered as standard across all the trims, whereas the top-end trims will feature DRLs too. The other evident change is the redesigned front bumper with a wider profile and new fog lamp housing. The front profile of the new Skoda Rapid facelift is reminiscent of the present-generation Fabia hatchback sold in the international markets.
The cabin is also expected to get changes in the form of more premium materials in the trims. The car that was spotted was equipped with a touchscreen infotainment system similar to that in the Volkswagen Vento. Skoda dealers have also mentioned that the variant feature distribution will be similar to the previous model.
Under the hood, the Skoda Rapid facelift will retain the 1.6 MPI petrol engine. The unit makes 105PS/153Nm and is offered with a choice between a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmissions. The diesel variants will be powered by the updated 1.5-litre motor that debuted in the recently launched Ameo. It makes 110PS of peak power and generates a maximum torque of 250Nm. We expect the transmission options on the diesel models to be similar to that of the Ameo.
The Skoda Rapid facelift will rival the likes of the Volkswagen Vento, Honda City, Hyundai Verna and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. Skoda India dealers are presently offering a discount of up to Rs 1 lakh on the present Rapid.