The launch date of the Rapid facelift seems to have got confirmed as emerging reports suggest that it would happen in the first week of November. Czech automaker Skoda has been putting the new avatar of the Rapid through testing on Indian roads for quite some time now.
The launch of the new Rapid facelift has been scheduled for November 3, reveals Autocar India. The Rapid, which has been a part of the Indian automobile industry for over five years, is expected to boast changes both inside and outside. The Rapid facelift has been caught on camera numerous times while undergoing testing, with the latest one being the production-ready version, showing the front grille of the model.
The new Rapid is likely to get a reworked front bumper with new grille and head lamps. While the side and the rear of the Rapid is likely to remain unchanged, the interior is rumoured to get an updated infotainment system with Mirrorlink, automatic AC with dust and pollen filter, front centre armrest and rear AC vents.
The Rapid, in its new avatar, is also likely to include major changes under the hood. While the current Rapid comes powered by 1.6 MPI petrol and 1.5 TDI diesel mills, the facelifted model is rumoured to get 1.5-litre TDI unit of the Ameo compact sedan. The Ameo diesel generates 108bhp at 4,000rpm and 25Nm of torque at 1,500-3,000rpm. The petrol mill will continue to be the same.
In the Rapid, the 1.6 MPI petrol mill currently develops 103bhp and 153Nm of torque, the 1.5 TDI diesel mill churns out the same power as the petrol unit with higher torque of 250Nm. The transmission in the petrol variant is taken care of by five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission and five-speed manual and seven-speed automatic transmissions in diesel models.
The Rapid is pitted against Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Vento in the Indian market.
