Skoda Slavia spotted – Will it be bigger than Honda City?
Skoda wrapped up the launch of the new Octavia recently. The premium sedan has set the standards really high this time with the features that are on offer. Skoda as a brand has typically been known for its sedans. So, carrying that trend forward, the Czech carmaker is set to unveil a new mid-size sedan in the country this year. Zac Hollis confirmed this recently and we have written an article on that. Do check it out by clicking the link below. Coming back to the mid-size sedan, it will be positioned above the Skoda Rapid. Also, if the speculations are to be believed, the brand will call it the ‘Slavia’. What we have here today is the Skoda Slavia spotted by a reader.
After close inspection of the spy shots, it became evident that the Slavia is the new-gen Skoda Rapid that is sold in foreign markets like Russia. The brand will use the new-gen car to bridge the gap between the current Rapid and the new Octavia. Also, with this car, the brand would be able to target the Honda City, something that the current Rapid does not aim for. So, today’s article will deal with Skoda Slavia that has been spotted and discuss what we expect from the car.
Volkswagen Virtus spotted – New Vento?
What information do the spy shots reveal?
The side profile of the upcoming mid-size sedan makes many things clear. First, the smooth roofline on the test mule follows the exact design that we get to see on the new Rapid. Second, the alloy wheels closely resemble the ones that the new Rapid gets. Third, the sleek headlamps remind of the ones on the new Rapid. Lastly, the silhouette of the front bumper looks similar to that of the new Rapid. These details significantly hint at the new Rapid being renamed the Slavia for the country.
Design
Now that we know that this car is the new Rapid underneath, we can get a fair idea of what this product will look like. The new sedan from Skoda will come with modern design cues that will give it a unique aura in the segment that it will target. Sleek headlamps will give the front fascia a sporty look. The sharp DRLs will complement the new look. Tail lamps on the Slavia will follow the sleek shape that the new cars from Skoda sport. Also, sleeker LED DRLs are expected on this one. We also expect Skoda Slavia to come with a notchback design. If Skoda decides to bring it with the notchback, it would become the cheapest sedan available in the country to come with the feature.
Skoda Slavia spotted Dimensions
The Slavia will be bigger than the current-gen Skoda Rapid. For reference, the Skoda Rapid is 4413mm long, 1699mm wide & 1466mm tall. The new Rapid that is sold in Russia is 4485mm long, 1706mm wide and 1475mm tall. Regarding the comparison with Honda City, this sedan is still bigger than the new-gen Rapid. The new City is 4549mm long, 1748mm wide and 1489mm tall. However, both the cars get a similar wheelbase. The Honda City gets a wheelbase of 2600mm whereas the new-gen sedan from Skoda gets a 2602mm long wheelbase.
Skoda Slavia spotted Features
Skoda Slavia is expected to come loaded with features that will surely attract customers. A touchscreen infotainment system, connected car tech, rear AC vents, an electric sunroof, wireless charging, a fully digital instrument cluster, remote engine start-stop and a two-spoke multi-function steering wheel are some of the expected ones.
Engine & Transmission
In India, the car is mostly expected to borrow the powertrain from the upcoming Skoda Kushaq. A 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder TSI engine will be capable of producing 113bhp and 175Nm torque and a 1.5-litre TSI engine which will be capable of producing 148bhp and 250Nm of torque are thus expected.
Launch & pricing
As mentioned in one of the stories that have been linked above, the Skoda Slavia will be unveiled by the end of this year. So, the car will hit the roads mostly by Q1 next year. As far as pricing is concerned, the sedan will be competitively priced against the new Honda City. The new City starts at Rs 12.96 Lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 17.83 Lakh (on-road Mumbai).
This was our information on the Skoda Slavia that has been spotted. If you have car buying doubts click here to ask! Get the lowest price for car insurance here. For more such content stay subscribed to MotorOctane Youtube, Google News Facebook and Twitter. Also, follow us on Flipboard and Reddit where we have a discussion community.
No, the Slavia or whatever it will be called is not related to the Rapid sold in Russia. That car uses older PQ26 underpinnings.
The new Slavia will make use of MQB A0 IN architecture. It will most likely be based on the Volkswagen Virtus (sedan version of Mk 6 Polo that is sold in South America). If you examine the side profile you can tell that it bears resemblance to the Virtus and not the Russia-spec Rapid.
Also, as has been the case with the India-spec Rapid, the Slavia will inherit its front end from the Fabia. You can tell by looking at the spy shots that the front end is more or less identical to new Mk4 Fabia.
In short, the Slavia has nothing in common to the Russia-spec Rapid.