Skoda unveils production-ready Rapid

Skoda has released the first pictures of its new Rapid compact saloon – the firm’s rival to the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf in the small family car segment.

Although a saloon, the Rapid is aimed at buyers looking for a practical yet compact vehicle and will sit in the Skoda range between the Fabia and larger Octavia Hatchback.

Record-breaking 500hp Skoda Octavia vRS driven

First Drive: Skoda Octavia (2009 onwards)

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Thanks to a relatively long wheelbase and compact rear suspension design, the Rapid is said to give more cabin and boot space than the itself-remarkably-spacious Octavia.

The small saloon debuts Skoda’s new design direction first seen on the Vision D concept and boasts a chunky front grille and quad headlight arrangement. At the rear there’s a hint of Octavia, with the C-shaped taillights, but for the new car the firm has tightened up the design.

Skoda Vision D concept

The Rapid will be available with a choice of seven engines from launch, including five petrol and two turbodiesels units.

Details remain scarce, but the Rapid is likely to be powered by Skoda’s 1.2- and 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engines – as well as a normally aspirated 1.6 – with a hot 200hp 2.0-litre turbo vRS variant to follow later.

Skoda’s 1.6 and 2.0 TDI motors will be available too, offering decent efficiency – in the Octavia Hatch, the 1.6-litre turbodiesel returns a claimed 62.8mpg with 119g/km CO2 emissions, equating to £30 road tax.

It’s expected that pricing for the new car will start from around £12,000 when it goes on sale in the UK this autumn. That’s £2,165 more than the entry-level Fabia Hatchback but £1,385 less than the larger Octavia Hatch.

At that price, it would also undercut the entry-level £13,995 Ford Focus Studio and £16,425 Golf S.

Expect full pricing and specification information closer to the car’s debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Record-breaking 500hp Skoda Octavia vRS driven

First Drive: Skoda Octavia (2009 onwards)

Find a used Skoda Octavia on Auto Trader