Seems like someone at Skoda wasn't happy with their current lineup, so they decided to close the gap between the Skoda Fabia and the Skoda Octavia, and bring to the world the Rapid Spaceback. Skoda started teasing this model a few weeks ago, and at the time, we all thought it was the RS version of the Rapid but it ended up being the A3 version of the Czech company.
Why do i insist in calling it the Skoda A3? Well, if you check closely, the overall shape of the car is very similar to the German vehicle, and is also described as a compact hatchback.
The Spaceback has 18 centimeters less than the Rapid saloon, but it keeps the same interior space, and it has one of the best trunk volumes of its class, measuring 415 liters or 1,380 liters when the rear bench is folded down.
Skoda offers four petrol and two diesel engines. A 1.2-liter MPI with 75PS (74bhp or 55kW) and 112Nm (83b/ft) mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, a 1.2-liter TSI that generates 85PS (84bhp or 63kW) and 160Nm (118lb/ft) connected to the same gearbox, another 1.2-liter TSI this time with 105PS (104bhp or 77kW) and 175Nm (129lb/ft) paired with a six-speed manual and the last of the petrol choices is yet another 1.2-liter TSI that produces 122PS (120bhp or 90kW) and 200Nm (148lb/ft), available with the seven-speed automatic transmission (DSG7).
The diesel choices include a 1.6-liter TDI with two different power outputs, one with 90PS (89bhp or 66kW) and 230Nm (170lb/ft), and another that generates 105PS (104bhp or 77kW) and 250Nm (184lb/ft). This engine is only available with a five-speed manual gearbox.
Sales will start from October 2013. Prices and other specifications will be released closer to the launch date. Public reveal will take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Source: Skoda
