[tinshark]

Originally Posted by rahulskumar

Rapid should be compared with City and not with Amaze. Amaze is sub 4 meter, should be compared with Dzire etc.

I would agree but when they launched Rider MT with a great price even those who would not have thought about Skoda or Rapid did notice and probably got into their shortlist.

Skoda has a very bad rep and seeing recent posts here it doesn't look like they have done enough to address it. At this point they should be doing everything they can to restore their reputation.

Once they have done that they need exceptional products or at least great products at exceptional prices for people to give them a chance. It seems like their HQ isn't willing to bear with some losses in the short term for that.

[skarthiksr]

Originally Posted by RaceHorse

Here is the updated Rapid TSI brochure with details of Automatic Variant.
No where in the brochure there has been any mention about ESC or TC or Hill Hold Assist.

Polo GT TSI at 9.67 Lakh has these safety features.

But, Zac claims AT has additional safety features. Let's wait for the response. May be a brochure update is awaited?
https://twitter.com/Zac_Hollis_/stat...41737020665856

[ramki.grandhi]

By looking at pricing, Skoda india's strategy is pretty clear. Put exorbitant sticker price and then offer tons of discounts to attract customers who are indecisive or generate noise in media.!

[itwasntme]

Could well be VW India doing by insisting on a high base price for this Skoda AT variant. If priced at say 8.89L, it would have left both the Polo & the Vento way behind in sales.

[saur95]

Originally Posted by The Rationalist

Rapid is 2 generation behind City and if you compare space and all there is no much difference with Amaze and Rapid. Its too old a car now, no point in saying it is 20 cm longer and all, the person buying cars in ₹ 8-12 lakh segment doesn’t go by size classification. He will look at all options when buying cars, even compact SUV (by true sense they can’t be called SUV!). Skoda had nothing to lose by pricing it lesser, but had lot to lose.

I'm not justifying the pricing but the Rapid comes under a different tax slab considering the Amaze is under 4m long (43% vs 29%). I understand this metric doesn't matter one bit to the consumer but Skoda would have lost more money than you think.

That being said, considering the platform being so old and them having localised a majority of the components, they could have gone ahead and massively undercut it's size rivals, a la Ford Classic.

I'm not sure what they're trying for with the MonteCarlo and Style pricing. The new City V CVT and Verna SX IVT (Comparable or better in terms of features) has them beat in pricing.

[GTO]

A 1.5 lakh rupee premium is ABSURD for a torque-converter gearbox. The Rapid is the senior citizen of the segment and it should have been priced to sell. No one even thinks of a Rapid when they are out shopping today.

Originally Posted by skarthiksr

But, Zac claims AT has additional safety features. Let's wait for the response. May be a brochure update is awaited?

In that case, they should get their house in order. I just checked the press release and it does NOT make any mention of additional safety features on the AT. Unless it is an after-thought add-on after customer reactions to the price difference.

Either way, wait for the discounts to kick in. They will come & they will be heavy.

› The new RAPID TSI Automatic Transmission is available at an ex showroom price starting from ₹ 9.49 lacs

› The most affordable automatic option in its segment, the new ŠKODA RAPID TSI Automatic Transmission with its class leading torque output delivers a 'fun to drive' experience like none another

› The 1.0 TSI engine, introduced with new RAPID, is central to ŠKODA's BS VI powertrain and fuel strategy

› With a six speed torque converter, it offers exceptional power [110 PS] and fuel economy [16.24 kmpl]

› 14% rise in torque, 9% increase in fuel efficiency, and 5% upsurge in power over the outgoing MPI engine

› Introduced in 2011, the RAPID marked ŠKODA AUTO's foray into the popular C segment in India

› It sets benchmarks for functionality, practicality and spaciousness, and is a top seller for the Czech marque

Mumbai, 17 September 2020: ŠKODA AUTO India unveiled the new RAPID TSI Automatic Transmission at an attractive introductory ex showroom price starting from ₹ 9.49 lacs, nationwide, taking forward the ‘One Nation. One Price.’ philosophy. At the heart of the new ŠKODA RAPID Automatic Transmission is an incredible new TSI mill mated to a six speed torque converter. Displacing 999 cm3, the three cylinder 1.0 TSI petrol engine fosters an astounding 110 PS (81 kW) of power at 5,000 to 5,500 rpm and 175 Nm of torque at 1,750 to 4,000 rpm. The new RAPID TSI Automatic Transmission is calibrated for refinement, efficiency as well as performance, and perfectly fits the urban lifestyle of the ŠKODA AUTO customers.

The fuel efficiency too is exemplary. The new ŠKODA RAPID TSI Automatic Transmission, with a six speed torque converter, offers 16.24 kmpl under standard test conditions. When compared with the outgoing 1.6 MPI engine, the new ŠKODA RAPID TSI delivers a 5 per cent upsurge in power and a 14 per cent rise in torque output. At the same time, the new RAPID TSI Automatic Transmission offers a 9 per cent increase in fuel efficiency against the previous motor.

Mr. Zac Hollis, Brand Director - ŠKODA AUTO India, said: "With the introduction of a six speed Automatic Transmission across the refreshed RAPID TSI range, the Czech marque has raised the benchmark within the segment. It is a reliable technology, provides a dynamic drive experience, and deems to be the best seller in its class."

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

The RAPID nameplate was incipiently used in the 1930s for the Type 901 and the 1980s for the rear engine RAPID Coupé. In November 2011, ŠKODA AUTO resurrected the RAPID nameplate for the Indian subcontinent. The compact sedan was developed exclusively for the local market by ŠKODA AUTO India - a wholly owned subsidiary of the Czech automobile manufacturer. The RAPID proved its mettle as a perfect blend of the marque's timeless design ideals, unbending performance, superior build quality, enhanced safety and security, and European craftsmanship, all at a competitive price point. The RAPID marked ŠKODA AUTO's foray into the popular C segment, in India, and garnered much appreciation from brand loyalists and auto enthusiasts from across the nation.

The subsequent iteration, introduced in late 2016, shares crystalline design cues with the rest of the ŠKODA AUTO product portfolio, among other elements: a plethora of safety and security modules, wealth of standard features, and numerous 'Simply Clever' solutions. The vehicle is ŠKODA AUTO's best seller in the domestic market and sets benchmarks for functionality, practicality, and spaciousness in its segment. A tribute to the success of the Czech moniker at the legendary 'Queen of Rallies', the premium ŠKODA RAPID Monte Carlo combines luxury and glamour with pulse racing sports styling.

[patwardhan]

I agree with GTO and also the fact that the body shell is still the same since it was launched apart from a few cosmetic changes. With this pricing, I would rather look elsewhere.

[gulerianeeraj]

I was waiting for them to launch the automatic variant. Honestly I’ve been a little disappointed with the fact that it ain’t a DSG. Secondly it has been priced on par with a DSG considering it’s a torque converter which is nowhere near the performance delivered by a DSG. They should’ve priced it a little more competitively. Still, hoping for a price cut during festive season. Fingers crossed

[sv97]

I think Skoda is trying to make up for the money lost it would have made on replacement of DSG transmission by keeping a premium of 1.5 lacs but with the torque convertor the chances of this happening are much lower.

Also, they know they won't be selling many of these only pure enthusiasts would buy it so why not extract the most out of them.

[Nithesh_M]

Originally Posted by sv97

I think Skoda is trying to make up for the money lost it would have made on replacement of DSG transmission

Its more like they're trying to make up for the money lost with the Rider manual variant sales which seems to be outselling the Ambition/Style variants they hoped to lure customers into at a lopsided scale.
I wonder if Skoda even manufacturers the Ambition and Style variants anymore as enquiries seem to be largely revolving around the Rider and the Onyx everywhere I go.

[Vid6639]

Cross posting from the other thread. This is not the same old 6 speed found in the Rapid and Vento 1.6L MPI.

The gearbox is a newer 6 speed Aisin box used by BMW and Mini for the entry level 1.5L 3 cylinder mini cooper and X1/X2. This box is also used by VW for all their non DSG cars in the US like the Jetta and Passat.

This is a japanese unit so you can be assured of the reliability vs their own box. lol.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Skoda India reminds me of the government at this moment.

Skoda Rapid Rider was launched at a brilliant starting price of 7.49 lakhs. The market received it with great enthusiasm! Even before deliveries started - Skoda nicely stopped the Rider and switched to a Rider Plus variant for better returns. Price is upto 7.99 lakhs now. Like a govt adds tax as soon as something looks to have takers.

Next was supposed to be the AT. A price tag of 8.49 lakhs for the Rider AT would have created shockwaves in the market - but has the Rider Plus 'tax' of 50k and a new gearbox 'tax' of 50k (over the usual 1 lakh) - making it 9.49!

Sorry Skoda - You've sacrificed sales for more profit margins! The only appealing variant out of all this is the Rider. Rest of it is too expensive for a decade old car!

[ChiragM]

Comparo: Skoda Rapid AT vs competition

Earlier this week, Skoda launched the Rapid 1.0L TSI AT. The car competes with the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Ciaz and the Toyota Yaris.



While the Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento share the 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Ciaz and the Toyota Yaris get a 1.5-litre N/A engine. The Rapid and the Ciaz get a torque converter gearbox, while the City, Verna and the Yaris get an optional CVT. The Verna also gets a DCT gearbox with a 1.0-litre unit.

The City and the Verna are also available with diesel engines. The Verna is the sole car to get a diesel AT.

Link to Team-BHP News

[skarthiksr]

Originally Posted by skarthiksr

But, Zac claims AT has additional safety features. Let's wait for the response. May be a brochure update is awaited?
https://twitter.com/Zac_Hollis_/stat...41737020665856

My guess has come true The brochure is updated and ESP and Hill hold control has been provided across all AT variants (Refer to Braking section below). Attaching the latest brochure.

[gururajrv]

Sonet is going to take care of your share! Skoda just entered with a gun but forgot the bullet while Kia came in with an arsenal already look at the pricing and it’s just something that Skoda failed to see its rubbing shoulders with CSUV segment which is on fire at the moment.

PS:
Kia is surely going to reign hellfire in the coming years and would eat other manufacturers share for sure (if their management doesn’t screw up).

Regards

RV