Skoda reveals Rapid Spaceback

It was teased on Facebook last week and spied in Europe earlier this month and now Skoda has revealed its all-new Rapid Spaceback.

However, Skoda Australia has confirmed the stylish new five-door hatchback will be the only Rapid model released here, after it cancelled plans to launch the Rapid sedan Down Under by mid-2013.

Skoda told motoring.com.au the Rapid Spaceback will go on sale in Australia in the first half of next year, when it will become the first small hatchback from the Czech brand in Australia – and the only Rapid model to compete with top-selling cars like the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla in Australia’s largest single vehicle segment.

“The Rapid Spaceback will be the first (Rapid) vehicle to be launched in Australia, which will give us the best vehicle to launch into the largest segment of the small car market,” said the spokesman, who indicated the local business case for the Rapid hatch was more favourable than the sedan’s.

“The new Rapid Spaceback will be the first model in this range to be offered in Australia,” said a Skoda Australia spokesman. “The Rapid Spaceback will be positioned above the Fabia and will be the first small hatch offered by Skoda in Australia.”

While the Rapid sedan is already on sale in Europe, its hatchback twin will make its global public debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, before arriving in European showrooms in October.

Appearing identical to the Rapid sedan from the A-pillars forward, the Spaceback is a conventional five-door hatchback but will be available with the Skoda-centric option of a full-length/width panoramic glass roof and extended rear glass hatch (pictured here on the red vehicle).

When fitted with the tinted glass roof and 10mm-longer glass tailgate option, which comes with a black roof spoiler, dark glass surfaces stretch all the way from the windscreen, across the coupe-like profile and deep into the rear hatchback.

Based on a modified version of the Fabia's platform (not the VW Group's MQB architecture that underpins the new Octavia and Golf), Skoda’s first fully-fledged small hatchback rides on a 4mm-shorter (2602mm) wheelbase than the sedan and measures 180mm shorter overall.

Despite this, Skoda says interior space is just as generous, offering best-in-class legroom and headroom, while boot volume is among the best at 415 litres or 1380 litres with the rear bench seats folded. That’s down from a massive 550 and 1490 litres in the sedan, but Skoda says an optional double cargo floor allows the load space to be divided into two horizontal levels.

Compared to the sedan, it features the same 19-slot grille with chromed frame, the same rounded bonnet with Skoda’s latest corporate logo and the same ‘cloverleaf’ headlight and foglight arrangement.

Inside, there’s also the same three-spoke steering wheels, trim lines and seat upholstery, while the five-door comes with the same practical additions as the sedan, including an ice scraper in the fuel filler flap, a double-sided boot floor cover, safety vest compartment under the driver’s seat, waste bin in the side door, parking ticket and multimedia holders and a parcel tray that can be stowed behind the rear seats.

As with the sedan  safety measures include front, side and head airbags, height-adjustable three-point seat belts with pre-tensioners, height-adjustable head restraints, electronic stability/traction control and anti-skid brakes.

Australian specifications are yet to be announced, but expect some models to at least be available with xenon headlights, tyre pressure monitoring, foglights with corner function and a hill-holder.

Also expect local pricing to start from under $20,000 for the entry-level Rapid Spaceback, powered by the same 77kW/175Nm 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine seen in the cheapest Fabia (from $18,990). The Rapid Spaceback 77TSI manual should consume the same 5.4L/100km and accelerate to 100km/h in the same 10.4 seconds as the sedan.

The Rapid Spaceback 90TSI, meantime, will be powered by the 90kW/200Nm turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine found in the entry-level Golf (from $21,490) and outgoing Octavia (from $24,990).

Unlike those models, the Rapid 90TSI will be available only with a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission. What's expected to be Australia’s most popular Rapid will accelerate to 100km/h in a claimed 9.5 seconds and return combined fuel consumption of 5.8L/100km.

Topping the Rapid Spaceback range from launch should be the oil-burning 66TDI, powered by a 66kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel matched with both (five-speed) manual and DSG transmissions.

In Europe, the Rapid Spaceback will also be available with 55kW 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol, 63kW 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol and 77kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines, all matched only with manual transmissions, with a special GreenLine version consuming as little as 3.8L/100km.

Along with the MkIII Octavia, the Rapid will play a key role in Eastern European Volkswagen brand’s goal to sell at least 1.5 million vehicles per year globally by 2018 – up from a record 939,200 in 2012 – and is expected to surpass the Octavia as Skoda’s top-selling model in Australia.

“The new Skoda Rapid Spaceback is a milestone for Skoda,” said Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland.

“It means that we are entering the strategically important segment of compact hatchback models. The Rapid Spaceback is a great addition to this class in that it combines Skoda’s good practical characteristics with the popular hatchback shape.

“Sporting the new Skoda design, the Rapid Spaceback has a fresh, dynamic and individual appearance. It is a compact car with a sporty chic, spacious and practical, ideal for young people and families.”

The Rapid hatchback's online reveal comes just days after the new Octavia RS sedan made its world debut ahead of the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend.

The third-generation Octavia sedan and wagon will be released here in November, before the hot RS versions arrive in the first half of 2014.

Skoda says it will launch eight new or revised cars this year, including refreshed versions of its entire range and additional models “for important segments by the end of 2015”.

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