The Skoda Rapid has been one of the most balanced sedans in its segment ever since it made its debut in India. The measured proportions, chiseled, handsome looks, good engine options along with class-leading handling and ride have made it a great choice for the clued-in customer. Now, for the year 2014, Skoda have introduced a spruced up version of the family sedan, incorporating some serious changes, which, thanks to their inconspicuousness may go totally unnoticed for those who find titillation in superficial adornment. For those who care to look deeply, though, the new 2014 Rapid is a significant improvement – and with the new set of changes probably presents itself as the best option in its class. Here’s why the new 2014 Skoda Rapid means serious business
Design and appearance
The new (international) 2014 Skoda Rapid, as we have known it from the images, has received quite a few changes on the outside, including angular headlamps, a new grille and details which push its appearance towards the new Skoda family look. Skoda India, however, have decided to keep the exterior of the new Rapid for India unchanged. And when we say unchanged, we mean totally unchanged. The new version of the Rapid is an exact clone of the model it replaces except for the new design of the alloys, and the new 15” steel wheels as standard on lower spec variants. The steel wheels on the lower spec models also feature a new design cover. It’s notable that the previous gen car had 14 incher steel wheels for the lower spec models. The new 15 inch alloys look muscularly smart and go well with the sophisticated look of the car.
Click here to read our detailed earlier review of the Skoda Rapid
For those who want some more flamboyance over the standard model, Skoda have presented a special Black Edition with the new Rapid.
The new variant adds some devilishness to the Rapid’s face with a few tactically appointed changes. The Black Edition Rapid will be available at an extra cost with smoked out headlamps, fog lamps with black surrounds, special 12 spoke black alloys and black ORVMs. Heck, even the chrome grille hosting the Skoda logo has been blacked out. The Black edition looks really nice, and should appeal to the enthusiasts, especially in the ‘flash red’ shade featured in the images here.
For the deities of devil who worship darkness, Skoda are offering an even more sinister option. The roof of the car can be finished in black along with black foils. These two additions, however, are available as accessories at the dealer level. The other changes described for the Black Edition, however, come incorporated directly from the factory, as OE.
The rapid, being the good-looking machine it always has been, still holds its own amongst the chrome laden faces of its Korean and Japanese counterparts. We do, however, believe that it would have been a bigger draw for the prospective customers had the 2014 Rapid been announced for India with that angular new family face of its international brethren. For now, however, the subtle design change in the form of the new alloys and the bigger wheels on the basic variants is the only external differentiation offered to the new model buyers.
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I bought a 2014 rapid but am disappointed with the dsg gear change when in traffic it surges forward as soon as you let the footbrake off.also I have found it difficult to reverse it up a slope it drops out of gear just at the last foot from the wall behind me and then I have to use the handbrake to get it back because goes back to fast.
is this a fault?