The official presentation of the Skoda Rapid was held in September 2012 in Paris. More precisely, the European premiere of the model took place, before that it was already sold in India and managed to get the title “Family car of 2011” there. Rapid fit in the model lineup of the company clearly in the middle between the cars Fabia and Octavia. Skoda Rapid combines the maximum number of opportunities that a budget car can have.
It has good driving characteristics, a stylish exterior and interior design, as well as unique spaciousness and an attractive price. The design of the Rapid exterior is strict, a bit conservative, but at the same time rather “fresh”. At first glance, the car looks like a sedan, but the trunk lid, like the other Škoda (Octavia and Superb) liftbacks, can be opened with or without the rear window. One of the main features of this model is the design of the front part: the grille is a clearly traced chrome frame with vertical plates, and strict rectangular headlights are balanced by elongated foglights.
The hood is decorated with “ribs”, in the center - punching, which at the border with the grille forms a protrusion to accommodate the new logo of the automaker. The modified logo also now flaunts on the rims of the car. Besides, Rapid, the first of the Czech concern’s cars, received the Skoda inscription on the rear left side of the body (before that, all cars were marked only with a badge on the back and the name of the car). A remarkable fact, the Rapid compact liftback became the winner of one of the largest international red dot design awards. The car is based on the familiar PQ25 platform - it is also the basis of the fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo family, SEAT Ibiza, Audi A1.
Skoda Rapid - the car is not small. It is 4480 mm long, 1770 mm wide, 1460 mm high. The wheelbase is 2600 mm. Suspension modules borrowed from other Skoda models.
For example, McPherson struts with lower A-arms in the front are taken from Fabia, but the whole structure is reinforced and adapted for heavier motors and a larger total mass. Behind the same installed torsion beam from the first generation Octavia. One of the priorities for the creators of Rapid was to create the most spacious cabin for this class and a roomy trunk. The boot capacity is 550 liters. It is equipped with hooks, holders, nets and pockets. In the underground is a full-size "dokatka" on a steel disk and a foam organizer.
If you fold the seat backs, the volume of the cargo compartment will increase from 550 to 1490 liters. Salon combines functionality and ergonomics. The convenience of landing in the driver's seat is facilitated by wide ranges of adjustment of the steering column in two directions and ergonomic seats.
Compact central box in combination serves as an armrest, and adjustable in height. This solution is borrowed from the Polo model. If you believe the manufacturer, Skoda Rapid implemented 19 innovative solutions. For example, under the driver's seat is a holder for storing an emergency vest.
The various trivia included in the Simply Clever system make using a car easier and more enjoyable. Under the lid of the tank there is an ice scraper, which is also a magnifying glass, and trash baskets are hidden in the doorway. In addition, the car has many small compartments for small items, a double-sided trunk mat with a pile on one side, a rubber cover on the other, parking ticket holders and much more. The car has a great level of handling and safety.
Depending on the configuration, it can be equipped with tire pressure sensors, an assistant on the climbs, an anti-skid system, side and front airbags, rear seat belt holders, ABS and ESP systems, and other options, such as fog lights, looking in the turn, 5 -inch display, "navigation", it is also possible to order sports seats and large wheels 215/40 R17. There are six motors for the European Rapid: a pair of 1.6 TDI turbodiesels (90 and 105 hp) and four petrol units: an atmospheric 1.2 MPI (75 hp) and three turbocharged engines of 1.2 TSI (86 hp), 1.2 TSI (105 hp) and 1.4 TSI (122 hp). Diesel engines are equipped with a Common Rail fuel system, as well as a diesel particulate filter.
The seven-speed, preselective DSG “robot” with a pair of dry clutches is available with an initial “diesel” and a top-end petrol engine. The six-speed “mechanics” goes to a 105-hp 1.2 TSI, all other engines are content with a five-speed manual. All power units meet the requirements of the Euro-5 environmental standard. Release the car in the Czech factory in Mlada Boleslavl. Machines for the Russian market are planned to be produced in Nizhny Novgorod. The Russian version of Rapid will receive a special package for bad roads, which involves increased ground clearance, longer springs and “soft” shock absorbers.
