The BS6 Compliant Skoda Rapid TSI Is Set To Launch In April 2020

• The Rapid TSI will be unveiled at Auto Expo 2020.
• 1.0-litre TSI engine is likely to develop 115PS and 200Nm.
• It’ll be offered with the choice of a manual and DSG automatic.
• Skoda India will launch the next-gen Rapid by the end of 2021.

Skoda Auto India will launch the BS6-compliant Rapid TSI sedan in April 2020. Zac Hollis, Director of Sales and Marketing, Skoda Auto India, has confirmed that the same via a tweet. The Rapid TSI is the replacement for the torque-laden Rapid TDI as Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is planning to take the petrol-only route in the BS6 era. It’ll be unveiled at Auto Expo 2020 along with a bunch of exciting Skoda cars. 

The Rapid TSI will come with a new BS6 compliant 1.0-litre TSI engine. Overseas, this powertrain is offered in two states of tune: 95PS/175Nm and 115PS/200Nm. For India, we expect the Rapid TSI to come with the 115PS state of tune. Transmission options for the Rapid TSI include a manual and DSG option. The Volkswagen Vento will also be offered with this new powertrain and we expect to see the updated model at Auto Expo 2020. 

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India will discontinue the 1.5-litre TDI engine in the near future as it won’t be upgraded to meet BS6 emission norms. The TDI engine currently does duty in the Polo, Vento, GT TDI and the Rapid. It comes in two states of tune: 90PS and 230Nm (Polo only) as well as 110PS and 250Nm. The Polo TDI and GT TDI come with a 5-speed manual while the Vento and Rapid can be had with a 7-speed DSG as well. 

The Rapid TSI is expected to be priced over the existing BS4 model which starts from Rs 8.82 lakh (ex-showroom pan India).

Meanwhile, Skoda will launch the next-gen Rapid on our shores by the end of 2021. It’ll be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform and will come as notchback. The India-spec model is expected to borrow plenty of styling cues from the Russia-spec 2020 Rapid. It’ll be offered with the 1.0-litre TSI engine and come with the option of a manual gearbox and a DSG. When launched, the Rapid TSI will renew its rivalry with the Volkswagen Vento, Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Verna.