Thrust Zone is reporting that this is a Skoda Rapid
powered by the 1.0-litre TSI engine on test. It is the first instance of the
sedan employing one of the most widely used compact engines by the Volkswagen
Group globally, in India.
The 1.0 TSI engine in question is from the same
engine family as the 1.0-litre MPI engine that was introduced in the VW Polo
and VW Ameo earlier this year - EA211. It’s a turbocharged three-cylinder
petrol unit capable of delivering anywhere from 95 PS to 115
PS. This 999 cc motor bagged the International Engine of the Year award in the
sub 1,000 cc-class this year.
Skoda is leading the India 2.0 project into which
the Volkswagen Group plans to invest some € 1 billion through 2021. A part of
this project is developing new petrol engines some of which will replace the
1.5-litre TDI engine employed in the current locally manufactured Volkswagens
and Skodas. The new engines will include the aforementioned 1.0-litre TSI
petrol unit, which the company will locally produce to ensure competitive
pricing.
With the Rapid’s successor still about three years
away, Skoda may have a final trick up its sleeve to rejuvenate sales, including
maybe a second facelift.
