Skoda is planning to bring the all-new next-generation Skoda Rapid under the brand’s India Project 2.0, based on the MQB-A0-IN platform that is the heavily localised version of the MQB platform. The new localised chassis is will underpin both the new Skoda Rapid as well as the new Volkswagen Vento. Recently, Skoda India’s director for sales, service and marketing – Zac Hollis replied to a query on Twitter which revealed that the company will not be bringing the new Skoda Rapid in India.
Alternatively, the Czech brand will be launching a larger sedan car that will replace the Skoda Rapid in India. The new larger sedan will also be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform and this car is expected to make its market debut close to the end of 2021. The brand has not yet revealed any details if it plans to completely replace the Rapid or will the new sedan be sold alongside the existing one, similar to how Honda is selling the 4th generation City alongside the 5th generation City in India.
Earlier, Zac Hollis had revealed that the brand already has to fulfil its backlogged orders of the Rapid sedan which indicates that the car is still much-popular in the Indian market. Skoda may not be willing to lose out on the chunk of customers that are loyal to the current generation Rapid.
The new-generation sedan is expected to be bigger and is expected to follow an India specific design language. The new car is also expected to come with new and updated interiors with equipment that is speculated to be at par with the Creta SUV. In the engine department, the larger sedan could be offered with both 1.0-litre TSI and 1.5-litre TSI turbocharged stratified injection petrol motor tuned to produce 110 PS and 150 PS respectively.
In the recent past, Skoda filed patents for a new moniker called ‘SLAVIA’ in the Indian market, which could be used for the new larger sedan.
