Skoda Rapid automatic to be launched on 17th September

Skoda India has finally announced the launch date of the automatic transmission equipped Rapid mid-size sedan. Prices for the car will be announced over a digital launch of the car on the 17th of September. The updated BS6 avatar of the Rapid was

Skoda Rapid Tsi Static Front Three Quarter

The automatic avatar of the BS6 Skoda Rapid is all set to hit the market soon. Here’s everything you need to know about.

Skoda India has announced the launch date of the automatic-transmission-equipped Rapid mid-size sedan. Prices for the car will be revealed during a digital launch of the car on the 17^th of September. The updated BS6 avatar of the Rapid was launched during the nationwide COVID lockdown on May 26^th. Owing to the switch to the cleaner emission norms, Skoda dropped the earlier 1.6-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine for the VW group’s new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine. This is the only engine on offer in the Skoda Rapid as of now since the VW group is staying clear of diesel powertrains in India, as a part of the group’s global powertrain realignment strategy, following the dieselgate scandal.

Since the time of the Rapid BS6’s launch, it has been available with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, while its Volkswagen siblings, the BS6 Polo and Vento, are being offered with the option of a new six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, which is mated to the same 1.0-litre petrol engine.

The same gearbox will be offered in the Skoda Rapid automatic as well. Prices for the Skoda Rapid currently range between Rs 7.49 lakh and Rs 11.79 lakh (ex-showroom). The 1.0-litre engine, with either gearbox, develops 108bhp @ 5,000 – 5,500rpm and 175Nm @ 1,750 – 4,000rpm both in the Vento and Polo. The engine produces the same figures in the Rapid manual as well.

The Vento automatic is offered in two top-end trim levels. Expect the Rapid to follow a similar strategy for its automatic variants. However, the Rapid is more affordable than the Vento, so expect the automatic variants of the Skoda to be a little more affordable. For reference, the price difference between the Volkswagen Vento Highline manual and VW Vento Highline automatic is Rs 2.10 lakh, and the difference between the Vento Highline Plus manual and Vento Highline Plus automatic is Rs 1.22 lakh, in ex-showroom spec.