Skoda reveals official sketches of 2013 Rapid

Skoda Auto, the fully owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, has come forward with the official sketches of the 2013 edition of the Rapid sedan. Earlier, the new sedan was seen on a road test. By seeing the renditions revealed by the company, it is said that the car will be placed in the compact sedan segment of the industry and will boast of certain advancements that will enthral auto aficionados across the world.

The company has commented that Rapid 2013 will be introduced in the European markets before the end of 2012 with only a few modifications. Further, officials also declared that the car will be slotted between the Fabia premium hatchback and Octavia executive sedan. The company also plans to release the car in China, which is the largest auto market in the world, in the initial months of 2013.

Skoda Rapid's latest iteration will be based on the platform of Volkswagen Polo and will be offered in petrol as well as diesel versions. The car will feature extra boot capacity of 500 litres, which will enable its passengers to carry tremendous amount of luggage on long trips. Skoda Rapid 2013 is influenced by the MissionL Concept which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2012. Thus, auto aficionados can anticipate witnessing several new exteriors features that the MissionL Concept boasts of.

The powertrain equipped within the new car will be designed on the traditional groundwork and will not be inspired from Volkswagen’s newly developed MQB platform. This decision of the company has helped it minimise the pricing of Rapid 2013. Thus, the entry level version of new car will be offered with a maximum price tag of £13,000, which is around £3,500 less than the Volkswagen Golf, which will be a strong competitor. It is anticipated that the car will be assimilated with compact turbocharged petrol and diesel powertrains, with a minimum of one sub-100g/km Greenline version on the cards.

Production version of Skoda Rapid 2013 is scheduled to be showcased at the Paris Motor Show, which will be held in September 2012. Sketches unveiled by Skoda depict that the car is provided with a hatchback-like tailgate, which ensures that the Rapid will be not placed in the compact family car market but will have more boot space. The car will not directly follow the footsteps of Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon, since SEAT will introduce its own edition of Rapid, as showcased by the Toledo 'concept' at 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The front fascia used in the VisionD concept car that showcased at the Geneva Motor Show 2012 has been updated while developing the new Rapid. These changes include a new grille and logo as well as more pleats on the bonnet, which will be seen in the production version of Skoda Rapid 2013. The company has not yet declared the technical configuration of the new Rapid and is expected to unveil the same around the time of its launch.