2014 Skoda Rapid facelift to launch on 30th September; new 1.5 TDI coming with DSG automatic

Skoda India will launch the updated 2014 Skoda Rapid on 30th of September. Meanwhile on 10th, company will be launching its facelifted crossover SUV Yeti. Speaking about the 2014 Rapid, though no cosmetic makeover, things under the hood will be revised entirely! Just like the new Polo, Rapid will be getting the new 1.5 TDI turbo diesel that VW debuted with the Polo update in India. And this new diesel engine will be mated to a VW's renowned dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox. Expected price would be in the vicinity of 10 lakh.

Rapid falls in the mid-size sedan segment and will compete with Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Honda City, Hyundai Verna, 2014 Ford Fiesta, 2014 Fiat Linea, 2014 Nissan Sunny & VW Vento (which is also prepping-up for a facelift launch). Adding in this context, only Hyundai Verna offers an automatic in diesel as of now in the segment and that too an 'ancient' 4-speed AT.

In the VW Polo, the new 1.5 TDI is present in two states of tune, Polo gets 88.8bhp (90PS), 230Nm version while the Polo GT TDI offers the same engine but belts out 103.5bhp (105PS) and 250Nm of torque. Now in the case of Rapid, it will be getting more powerful version of this engine and will offer 5-speed manual and an automatic dual-clutch DSG (it  would be probably a 7-Speed DSG from the Polo GT TSI). While the petrol trim is likely to retain the same 1.6MPI petrol.  

Read More on : Skoda Rapid expert review