A lot of times, things look good on paper than in real life. On seeing the Citigo Rally Concept on paper, I may have said that it’s way too badass. Now that some live images have tricked in, it’s a bit of a foot-in-the-mouth moment for me.
Three things are wrong with – the car is too small, the body kit is too wide and the front bumper, well that looks like a snapshot of a blue whale eating its lunch.
I quite like the Black-White and Green paint scheme but the cave-of-a-mouth is way too attention seeking.
A car that we badly want in India is the Skoda Citigo. However, Skoda and VW have not finalized their plans of bringing these small cars to India. The feasibility study is going on and by December we can expect the VW Group to take a call on its launch.
In the mean time, Skoda has showcased the Citigo Rally Concept which will be heading to the Worthersee Tour in Austria to accompany Audi’s Q3 Red Track Concept.
Based on a heavily modified Polo platform, the Skoda Rapid is expected to sail to the shores of Britain soon after its late-2012 world debut in Europe, Motoring.co.uk has reported.
In prize and size, the Skoda Rapid liftback will be positioned in the wide open gap between the Fabia and Octavia (Laura).
An AutoForum.cz member spotted two versions of the Skoda Rapid testing in Czech Republic. The models have differently designed rear fascias.
If you look closely you will see that that the black model is much like the version sold in India with cuts on the boot lid and a squared appearance. The second version, painted in dull gray, wears a much cleaner rear fascia that calls the Chevrolet Sail to mind.
While the MissionL previewed Skoda’s future styling, none apart from the Citigo have received their styling updates so far. The only car that ‘sort of’ has a glimpse of the MissionL styling is the Skoda Rapid from India which has two kinks on the boot lid.
There is very specific reason why mentioned ’Skoda Rapid from India’. You see the Skoda Rapid platform will be heavily customized (including styling) for each and every market.
It may not be India’s best selling premium hatchback, but the Skoda Fabia is nothing short of a sales champion for Skoda globally. Skoda celebrated the manufacturing of the three millionth example last week at the Mladá Boleslav factory in Czech Republic.
The landmark car rolled out of the assembly line as a Greenline variant, a Fabia with minor mechanical and visual tweaks to help it achieve better fuel economy and a lower emission rating. It is on its way to a customer in Germany. Skoda showcased the Greenline variant in India during the 2010 Auto Expo but has not introduced it here.
Czech artist Marek Piano Kedzierski has rendered three body styles that Skoda could bring out using the Rapid platform. For Europe the Rapid is a compact liftback (a la old Skoda Octavia) unlike in India where it is a sedan. The European version will have MissionL styling cues and more expensive interiors.
Piano proposes three variants – Sportback, Combi and Coupe besides a tightly designed hatch variant.
The Skoda Rapid may be stealing a good chunk of Volkswagen Vento customers in India but over in Europe, there are more reasons to celebrate.
The Rapid is first of a new generation of Skoda products (the company promises to launch one every six months) and unlike in India where it is a sedan, the Rapid is a hatch in Europe (think how an Octavia’s boot opens).
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A lot of times, things look good on paper than in real life. On seeing the Citigo Rally Concept on paper, I may have said that it’s way too badass. Now that some live images have tricked in, it’s a bit of a foot-in-the-mouth moment for me.
