Skoda Rapid facelift to launch in second half of 2016 - Report

Could draw cues from the Euro-spec Skoda Rapid.

At the launch of the 2016 Skoda Superb, Mr. Sudhir Rao, MD, Skoda Auto India, said that the time had come for the company to step out of its consolidation phase, and push volumes to meet big ambitions in the future.

Following the launch of the Superb, Skoda is planning to launch a major facelift for the Skoda Rapid sedan, which is expected to go on sale in H2 2016. Currently, there are very little details on the India-spec Rapid facelift, apart from old reports which claimed that Mahindra Engineering Services are carrying out the engineering aspects of the design. It could draw cues from the Euro-spec Skoda Rapid, which follows the company's latest design language, and fall in-line with their latest range.

The interior could be largely identical, save for new features that were introduced in the 2016 VW Vento, such as rain sensing wipers, auto dimming IRVM, phone book/SMS viewer and Mirrorlink connectivity as part of a new touch screen infotainment system.

Also Read: Skoda Kodiak (VisionS) rendered ahead of Geneva debut

Under the hood, the Rapid is likely to pack VW's updated 1.5 TDI engine, which could produce 2 PS and 10 Nm more than the 104 hp unit in the current model. Transmission options will likely remain the same: 5-speed manual or 7-speed DSG automatic.

Rivals: VW Vento, Maruti Ciaz, Honda City, Ford Fiesta
Expected Pricing: INR 7 - 12 Lakhs
Expected Release Date: H2 2016

[Source: ET Auto]