POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Turbo-petrol cars were always an indulgence, demanding enthusiasts stretch their budgets to experience The Thrill of Driving. No longer
SEVEN AND A HALF LAKH RUPEES. THAT was the headline announcement at Skoda India’s first ever virtual press conference. If these were normal circumstances there would have been a collective gasp, even a round of applause, when Zac Hollis, director of Skoda Auto India, announced the Rapid TSI’s starting price. As things stand, that gasp went off in the living rooms of the automotive media, and enthusiasts across the country who were tuned in to Skoda India’s live feed. Seven and a half lakh rupees makes the Rapid TSI The Most Affordable direct-injection turbo-petrol car you can buy today — and this, remember, is a 4.4 metre long sedan with a spacious rear seat and a full 460-litre boot, not a compact sedan and most definitely not a hatchback with a back seat fit only for children. It in fact undercuts its direct rivals by `80,000 to `2,40,000 and makes a great case for somebody wanting to upgrade from a hatchback to a sedan without breaking the bank.
The `7.49 lakh variant of the Skoda Rapid TSI is the Rider edition — a model than goes back to the very start of their innings in India. If you look back, Skoda was the first manufacturer to introduce a turbo-petrol engine in India with the Octavia RS, and catering to demand from enthusiasts, the 1.8 motor was then offered in the regular Octavia including the Rider edition. The latter’s claim to fame, being The Most Affordable turbo-petrol car you could buy and it was a huge hit with enthusiasts. And now the Rapid Rider follows in the same vein.
The 1.0 TSI engine in the Rapid is a brand-new engine for India and will be heavily localised ensuring very affordable parts and will also be entered into motorsport events to prove both its performance and reliability. Displacing 999cc from three cylinders, the turbocharged and direct-injection motor offers a 5 per cent jump in power over the old 1.6 naturally-aspirated unit to deliver 108.5bhp. Torque, a major plus point with all turbo engines, jumps up by a huge 14 per cent to 175Nm. And this doesn’t come at the cost of economy with fuel efficiency jumping up by a whopping 22 per cent to a claimed 18.97kmpl.
On the styling front, the Rapid remains familiarly good-looking with crisp, elegant and timeless lines accentuated by the strong colours. Keeping pricing in mind, the Rider edition gets halogen headlamps, no fog lamps or chrome garnishes, 15-inch steel wheels and a 2-DIN stereo but there’s no compromise on safety with all variants getting 2 airbags while comfort is guaranteed with the automatic climate control. Step up to the Style variant and you get 4 airbags as standard along with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lamps, chrome embellishments on the inside and outside and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Speaking of colours, the Onyx edition gets a striking Lapiz Blue shade that contrasts handsomely with blacked out alloys, wing mirrors and side mouldings while the Monte Carlo gets a flashy shade of red, appropriately named Flash Red. Both these variants get an all-black dash mated to dual-tone interiors with leatherette seats and a flat-bottom multifunction SuperSport steering wheel to accentuate the sporty credentials of the Rapid TSI. All the show is backed by go!
Not only is the Rapid priced very attractively, for just `29,999 you can upgrade to the Skoda 4-Year Service Care program that includes 4 years of warranty, roadside assistance and an optional maintenance package. And for ultimate peace of mind there’s the 6-year Skoda Shield Plus that incorporates motor insurance, 24x7 roadside assistance and an extended warranty. This is all in addition to the Skoda App that we have spoken about in the past where you can not only book the car in for a service but also check out parts and service prices to ensure a transparent aftersales experience. Which means you can now enjoy a very rapid, err, Rapid with complete peace of mind and significant savings in your pocket.
The Rider represents a great VFM package. You get a proper sedan, turbo-petrol engine, engaging dynamics and solid safety — all at a price undercutting most hatchbacks and compact sedans. Our review is coming up next month, do not miss it! ⌧