Skoda Rapid facelift bookings start in India; comes with updated diesel engine

Skoda's much-loved compact sedan is about to get a facelift, one that should give it a look that is now familiar with Skoda's more recent lineup of vehicles, that includes the Superb, and the soon to arrive Kodiaq, its first SUV. Overdrive has reported that test mules have already been spotted and that official dealerships across the country have already begun to accept bookings for a token amount of Rs 25,000. The launch of the new Skoda is expected to take place on 3 November.[caption id="attachment_343141" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Shown above is the new and updated Skoda Rapid available in Europe.[/caption]The new look features an updated and more aggressive-looking front grille. There's a new edgier headlight design as well, that may feature DRLs in the pricier trims. The front bumper gets a redesign and now appears to have a wider profile and new housing for the fog lamps.The interiors are also said to be updated with more premium materials (depending on the trim chosen). Other goodies include an infotainment system.Since this is a facelift, not much is expected to change under the hood. As for the petrol variant, the Skoda has retained the 1.6-litre TSI engine that delivers 105PS of power and 153Nm of torque. The petrol variant will be offered in 5-speed manual and 6 speed automatic transmissions.[caption id="attachment_343143" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Shown above is the new and updated Skoda Rapid available in Europe.[/caption]The diesel variants do get some updates. The same will be powered by an updated 1.5-litre motor that pushed out 110PS of power and 250Nm of torque.