[DieselDon]

Source : Autocar UK - Skoda to make Golf-style Rapid hatch

The new car will derive its looks from the Vision D

Rapid hatch will be shorter than the notchback Rapid and will feature a more Golf–like rear end

Skoda has confirmed its intentions to launch a conventional five-door hatchback version of its new Rapid.

The Czech firm’s sales and marketing boss, Jürgen Stackmann, said the car would be shorter than the notchback Rapid and would feature a more Golf–like rear end.

The car was previewed as the Vision D concept at last year’s Geneva motor show. It featured bolder wheel arches and slimmer lights than the production Rapid’s. The final version is planned for launch towards the end of next year.

However, it won’t exactly mirror the Vision D’s look. “It’s not that car,” Stackmann told Autocar. Nor would he reveal the new hatchback’s name, although he did confirm that there will be no three-door version of the Rapid because the market volumes would be too low.

The European Rapid is a Hatchback by classification. So this is going to be one more (but a bit shorter).

Another Article on The Motor Report - Australia quotes

Fabia replacement or not, the report suggests a launch date of late 2013 for the new model.

I remember this from the Skoda 5 yr plan (but in 2014) - Indian Autos Blog

Skoda’s five-year product plan:
2012: Rapid saloon, Octavia saloon replacement, Yeti facelift, five-door Citigo
2013: Rapid Spaceback, Octavia Combi replacement, Superb saloon/Combi facelift
2014: Fabia hatchback/Combi replacement, Roomster replacement, Citigo MPV
2015: Superb saloon/Combi replacement, Yeti replacement
2016: new crossover larger than Yeti, new MPV larger than Roomster, Rapid/Citigo facelift

[avira_tk]

This car will never make it here, atleast not in 5 years, the only thing Skoda will do is get the new Octavia in Europe as the Laura replacement and discontinue the Laura brand. The market takes to premium hatches with features(i20), VAG thinks climate control is not needed for the Jetta, how much of this car can they decontent before they start selling at an acceptable price?

The Citigo and new Octavia, thats about all Skoda will do in the coming years. Vision D based cars are a long way off for us Indians.