- The new ŠKODA Rapid – the new class of ŠKODA
- New compact hatch to be launched in Europe from October 2012
- World debut at the 2012 Paris Automobile Salon
ŠKODA’s appearance at the 2012 Paris Automobile Salon (27th September – 14th October, 2012) will be dominated by the ŠKODA Rapid as the new compact hatch makes its world debut. Rapid will be the first model in the ŠKODA range to feature ŠKODA’s new design language and will be introduced in Europe from the end of October, continuing ŠKODA’s international model offensive.
In launching the new ŠKODA Rapid, ŠKODA ignites the next stage of its model offensive; no surprise, then, that the brand’s new compact hatch is at the centre of ŠKODA’s appearance at the Mondial in Paris. “The ŠKODA Rapid is ŠKODA’s new class and it has a central importance for our 2018 growth strategy. We think that in the years ahead, the Rapid will become our largest volume model after the Octavia,” says ŠKODA CEO Winfried Vahland. “Our new model line sets standards amongst compact hatch models and it is a ŠKODA in the best sense: roomy, elegant and affordable at the same time, a car for the whole family, with clever solutions, modern technology, high efficiency and the best price-value ratio,” says Vahland.
The ŠKODA Rapid complements ŠKODA’s model palette between the smaller ŠKODA Fabia and the larger ŠKODA Octavia. The car’s extremely generous space offering is the benchmark in the segment. No other car in the segment offers as much knee and headroom space and as large a boot volume (550 litres) as the new ŠKODA Rapid. “This is an extremely flexible hatch, and its boot has estate-car qualities,” says Vahland.
“Simply clever”: the car with the ice scraper inside the fuel filler flap
As with every ŠKODA, the subject of practicality has a special emphasis in the new ŠKODA Rapid. The new model features no less than 19 “simply clever” solutions. One example of such a solution that is especially ingenious, is the ice scraper integrated in the fuel filler flap, providing the ice scraper with a fixed space in the car, meaning no more cumbersome searches in winter. Other practical solutions include the reversible floor covering in the boot and practical holder underneath the driver’s seat for the warning vest that is mandatory in many countries.
The ŠKODA Rapid is the brand’s first series car to feature ŠKODA’s new design language: attractive, modern, clear, precise and timelessly elegant. At the centre of the car’s front is the new ŠKODA logo: a precisely executed winged arrow in chrome set on a black matte base and framed by a fine chrome line. The positioning of the car’s fog-lamps and headlights is reminiscent of a cloverleaf. The Rapid’s elegant side aspect impresses with a coupé-like silhouette and a clear division of surfaces and lines. The car’s rear end again stands for clarity, freshness and precision: the taillights show the ŠKODA-typical C-shape design in its new shape with a fine crystalline grind.
In the field of safety, the ŠKODA Rapid impresses with comprehensive active and passive safety equipment. The engine line-up in Europe includes four petrol and two diesel aggregates, with five especially efficient GreenTech variants also available from launch.
ŠKODA at the MONDIAL DE L’AUTOMOBILE 2012 in Paris:
- ŠKODA location: Pavilion 4, Stand 215
- ŠKODA press conference: Thursday 27th September 2012, 09:35 a.m.
- Number of ŠKODA vehicles on display on the first press day: 8 – all Rapid
- Number of ŠKODA vehicles on display on the second press day: 11 (5x Rapid, 1x Citigo 5 door, 1x Citigo 3 door, 1x Fabia Monte Carlo, 1x Yeti, 1x Octavia Estate vRS, 1x Superb Estate L&K)
- Number of ŠKODA vehicles on display on the general-public days: 11 (3x Rapid, 1x Citigo 5 door, 1x Citigo 3 door, 1x Fabia Monte Carlo, 1x Yeti, 1x Octavia Estate, 1x Octavia Estate vRS, 1x Superb Estate L&K, 1x Roomster)
- Press days: Thursday 27th September – Friday 28th September, 2012
- General-public days: Saturday 29th September – Sunday 14th October, 2012
Article source: www.skoda.co.uk
