Skoda starts Rapid production

Skoda’s Lauretta is now the Rapid, once again. Autocar first revealed that Skoda was to call its version of the Vento the Rapid on April 24, and at the time the name was Rapid. Then Skoda had a change of heart and decided on the name Lauretta. And Lauretta it was going to be. Skoda printed owners manuals with the name, made badges for the bootlid and even registered the model; but alas, Lauretta got a bad response when it was clinic-ed.

So now, unbelievably, it’s back to Rapid. Officially. (Ahh, the perils of reporting manufacturers plans well before they are frozen!) At the rolling-out ceremony in Chakan today, Skoda Chairman Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland said, “The Rapid is a true reflection of our motto ‘Simply Clever’.”

Autocar India was also the first magazine to show you undisguised pictures of the Rapid. Our Anniversary issue in September had a couple of exclusive pictures of the car, and it was pretty clear this Skoda was put together using a collection of familiar elements. Still, there is something quite attractive about the design.

The headlights, the grille and the fogs are similar to Skoda’s Fabia. Look closely and you can see the Vento under the skin too. To help the Skoda and VW bits blend, there’s a new bonnet, new fenders and a mildly altered chin. The bonnet is longer, the new fender has the Vento’s sharp crease built into it and the chin is slightly altered at the corners, where it merges with the Vento’s beautifully executed wheel arches. The rear is different from the VW Vento too. Granted, you’ll have to look even closer at these pictures and compare it directly with a Vento, but you can tell that Skoda has inserted its ‘C’ motif in the tail-lights, the area where the numberplate sits has been altered and there is a new, more sculpted bumper.

The engines will be shared with the Vento, which means there will be a 1.6-litre, 105bhp petrol and a 1.6-litre 105bhp diesel, both making class-leading torque figures. Differences, if any, from the Vento’s engines will lie in their state of tune. Also expect the interiors to offer the same sort of space and comfort as the VW. Plenty of legroom, generous width and well-supported front seats.

Keeping the positioning of the two brands in mind, you can also expect the Rapid to be priced slightly below the Vento. And there’s also the possibility of Skoda launching an even cheaper version, with some kit deleted. Looks like the hole left by the exit of the Octavia will be filled after all. Expect a competitive price and a strong sales push from Skoda.