Is the Skoda Rapide for India the MissionL Concept from Frankfurt?
Skoda has launched the new Rapid in India, which could be a taster of the Skoda MissionL for the European market.
Skoda revealed the MissionL Concept at Frankfurt last month, a Skoda aiming to plug the gap between the Fabia and Octavia. At the time we commented that the MissionL could turn up in India before it did in Europe, and it looks like it has – as the new Skoda Rapid.
The Rapid moniker is one that ‘old’ Skoda used on one of its communist-era offerings, so whether the MissionL Concept will become the Skoda Rapid in Europe is debatable, but the Indian Rapide certainly looks to fit the brief of the MissionL.
Based on a stretched Polo platform, the Rapid in India comes with a choice if 1.6 litre engines – one diesel, one petrol – and looks to be the spit of the MissionL.
Take a look at the photo at the top. On the top left is a photo of the Skoda Rapid from India, and below it is the MissionL photo we had in the run-up to Frankfurt (there’s also what we think is the first photo of the interior of the Rapid). Looks pretty much the same to us.
There’s no doubt the Rapid for Europe will get a wider range of options, engines and specs, but it looks like it will be the same car.
No doubt Skoda will enlighten us soon enough.
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