Skoda teases its Toyota Corolla rival

Skoda has released a new design rendering of the production version of the Vision RS concept it revealed at last week’s Paris motor show ahead of its launch late this year.

Created to go head-to-head with cars like the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, the new five-door hatchback will be a direct replacement for the current Rapid Spaceback.

However, according to rumours, it will be renamed for the next generation.

Confirming only that its new compact hatch will be based on the VW Group's A0 MQB platform, Skoda has promised the Rapid replacement will offer 'generous passenger space' and 'numerous' driver assistance systems.

For the fourth-generation Rapid, Skoda is believed to have no plans to replace the previous model's liftback body style, which has been discontinued in Australia, and will instead concentrate on the Spaceback hatch.

Skoda’s current Rapid Spaceback is available in Australia in one 92TSI automatic variant priced from $23,990.

Already spotted testing, Skoda’s redesigned Golf-size hatchback will again come equipped with Volkswagen Group four-cylinder turbo engines, including a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol and, potentially, the option of a 1.6-litre diesel.

In Europe, the Rapid is almost certain to be offered with petrol-electric hybrid power, including engines with mild-hybrid tech, but any plug-in version is likely to be off the cards for Australia in the short-term.

Due on sale in Europe from early next year, the Skoda Rapid replacement is likely to arrive Down Under before the end of 2019.

Expect more teases in the build up to its full reveal.