Skoda to launch face-lifted Rapid in 2016

Skoda to give the Rapid a complete makeover to make it look more contemporary

Skoda has been selling its Rapid mid-size sedan in India since 2011 and in that time it has gone through one face-lift in 2014 that give it some cosmetic tweaks, a ‘Black Package’ in the Elegance variant which gave the car styling tweaks such as black ORVM casings, black bezels for the head lamps, black alloy wheels and black stickering. The Rapid was also launched with VW’s seven-speed double clutch automatic gearbox for the diesel model.

For 2016 though, the Skoda will be giving the Rapid a major face-lift that will give the car a completely revamped exterior. This 2016 face-lift for the Rapid will see Skoda redesign a lot of body panels for the car as well as give it a completely new front end that will look sleeker with the design bearing strong resemblance to the larger Skoda Rapid sedan sold internationally.

The 2016 Skoda Rapid for India will get sleeker head lamps, a new grille that sees the new bonnet flow into its centre with the Skoda logo much like in newer Skoda models. The bumper will get a place plastic centre section running across housing a central air dam and longer fog lamps on either side. Expect new tail lamps and alloy wheels as well with a redesigned boot lid and rear bumper. Overall, the car will get sharper design lines that will make it look more contemporary.

Engine options for the Skoda Rapid will remain the same, which will include a 1.6 litre petrol engine and a 1.5 litre diesel engine. Expect a slight bump up in prices when the revised Skoda Rapid for India is launched.

The face-lift should see the updated Rapid gain some traction over newer rivals in the segment. The car is expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2016.