European Skoda Rapid Spotted; All new car based on Mission L concept

[tushky]

the Rapid for Europe and China is based on the Skoda Mission L concept unlike Indian Rapid which is based on VW Vento.
sourse 2013 Skoda Rapid teasers released plus latest spy photos

[nik_kapur]

Whats with the rear door that finishes before the actual door lines? It seems like this is one more example of the famous VW Camouflage. Even the rear lights look like they have a sticker pasted on it to cover some elements.

What car is this Rapid based on? Could this be the next gen Octavia/Laura? There are some Jetta lines in this car !! Or is it too small ?

[Monaro CV8]

Thanks for sharing.

This one is a big car. Bigger than the Indian Rapid.
More like the size of the Laura.
Notice the familiar look on the boot lid.

Mission L has got different set of headlights and grill.

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by nik_kapur

What car is this Rapid based on? Could this be the next gen Octavia/Laura? There are some Jetta lines in this car !! Or is it too small ?

The earlier news bit on this said that the car will be positioned between the Fabia and the Octavia (Laura in India).
The link is available in this post: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intern...ml#post2765114 (Skoda Mission L Concept Revealed - The next Laura?)

[F150]

Is it only me ?

I somehow think this is a photo-shopped superb to look like a extended wheelbase RAPID with some work on the grill ? The lines are not clear/clean near the headlights, rear door and the roof line is strikingly similar to the superb.

[.anshuman]

European Rapid is new International car Skoda plans to fill the gap with between Fabia and Octavia(Laura). This car is based on Mission L concept. It will be positioned lower than Octavia. It has no connection with Indian Rapid which is merely a Polo with boot(or a rebadged Vento), Euro Rapid is a new car built from scratch.

Another good news is, the next gen Octavia(our Laura) is most probably going bigger in size and will get even premium positioning, good news for those planning a upgrade from current Octavia but find the Superb too big.

[CARDEEP]

More pics & details on the new Rapid, which will be a sedan not a hatch, courtesy Carpoint.AU:

SPY PICS: Rapid new Skoda breaks cover

The engine is rumored to be a 1.4 L 118BHP TSI (Petrol), but, no mention of the diesel engine, which IMO will definitely be there.

Good news for Octavia fans, who are not satisfied with both Rapid & Laura.

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by CARDEEP

Good news for Octavia fans, who are not satisfied with both Rapid & Laura.

Why is it good news for Octavia fans? With the local Rapid already around in India, I don’t expect the Euro Rapid to head down here soon – unless they position the next gen Octavia** higher, and squeeze this one in between, probably with a different name.

**I remember reading somewhere that the next gen Laura will get back the name Octavia to India (aligned to how it is sold internationally).

[CARDEEP]

Originally Posted by vb-san

Why is it good news for Octavia fans? With the local Rapid already around in India, I don’t expect the Euro Rapid to head down here soon – unless they position the next gen Octavia** higher, and squeeze this one in between, probably with a different name.

**I remember reading somewhere that the next gen Laura will get back the name Octavia to India (aligned to how it is sold internationally).

Please refer @.anshuman post immediately before my post which should clear the doubts/ confusion.

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by CARDEEP

Please refer @.anshuman post immediately before my post which should clear the doubts/ confusion.

Sorry, there was no doubts/confusion whatsoever. What I mentioned is aligned to Anshuman's comments.

I maybe wrong, but this is what I infer from the developments so far:
1) India will continue to have the existing Rapid – the modded Vento
2) Next gen Laura will bring back the Octavia name back to India (aligned to how it is sold internationally)
3) The Rapid – based on Mission L concept will go on sale in Europe by end of this year, and in China around early 2013.

[libranof1987]

If indeed the European Rapid is a car built from scratch, why wouldn't it come to Indian shores? Similarly, why didn't the Indian Rapid find it's way outside India?

The rear looks like the entire boot lid+rear glass is one piece.

Slightly OT : Why is it only Skoda that puts a wiper on the rear windshield of a sedan?

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

If indeed the European Rapid is a car built from scratch, why wouldn't it come to Indian shores? Similarly, why didn't the Indian Rapid find it's way outside India?

On the first question, an expensive C-Segment Skoda (pricey than the Vento) may not go well with the VW think-tank. They always want the VW counterpart to have a premium than the lesser sister.

For the latter, a build-to-cost Indian Rapid may not find many takers outside India. For that matter, even the Vento goes to a very miniscule international market (as Polo sedan).

Originally Posted by libranof1987

The rear looks like the entire boot lid+rear glass is one piece.
Slightly OT : Why is it only Skoda that puts a wiper on the rear windshield of a sedan?

Could be because of the notchback styling (boot + rear glass opens up). But I am not sure if the international Rapid is going be a notchback.

[Swanand Inamdar]

For some reason, this doesnt look like the final product (to me).
Notice the rar door. It ends before the actual door lines.
Even the tail lights feel different. More like a camouflage.

But yes, it does look bigger. As Anshuman rightly pointed out, this one is actually built from scratch, unlike the Indian Rapid.

[nik_kapur]

Heres an interior shot of the car-




Source- Car Advice

[shimoo]

It is clearly one of VW's clever camouflages. The headlamps, tail lamps and many elements are disguised to look like the Indian rapid. You can see the grille on the bumper that has been stickered on to look like the rapid. Also the headlamps and taillamps are have extra stickers to make them look like the ones one the Indian Rapid.


The camouflaging is clearly visible in these pictures. More spyshots here.



In this picture you can clearly see stickers over the sheetmetal around the headlamps whose shape actually matches the Mission L concept(pic of Mission L below).

Here's a picture of the Mission L for comparison.


Also Skoda will be using the grille seen on the concept(without the chrome bar above the grille) So we can assume that the big chrome bar is also a fake addition.
Also the airdam's shape has been camouflaged in the test car which upon closer inspection actually looks just like the concept's