0 Bienvenue ŠKODA Rapid - ŠKODA at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris

Škoda's appearance at the 2012 Paris Automobile Salon (September 27^th - October 14^th, 2012) is dominated by the ŠKODA Rapid. This new compact saloon will be seeing its world debut in Paris. This car, the first to feature ŠKODA's wholly new design, underscores the brand's growth ambitions. The ŠKODA Rapid will be introduced in Europe from the end of October, continuing ŠKODA's international model offensive. In 2012, the brand has been growing rapidly, increasing deliveries to customers by 8.5 per cent to a new record of more than 633,300 from January through August. As in the past years, Škoda also proved very successful in the 2012 motorsport season, securing two of three titles several weeks ahead of season's end.
In launching the Škoda Rapid, Škoda ignites the next stage of its model offensive. No surprise, then, that the brand's new compact saloon is at the core of ŠKODA's appearance at the Mondial in Paris. "The Škoda Rapid is Škoda's new class and it has a central importance for our 2018 growth strategy. We think that in the years ahead, the Rapid will become our largest volume model after the Octavia," says ŠKODA CEO Winfried Vahland. "Our new model line sets standards among compact saloons and it is a ŠKODA in the best sense: roomy, elegant and affordable at the same time, a car for the whole family, with clever solutions, modern technology, high efficiency and the best price-value ratio," says Vahland.
The Škoda Rapid complements Škoda's model palette between the smaller Škoda Fabia and the larger Škoda Octavia. The car's extremely generous space offering is the benchmark in the segment. No other car in the segment offers as much knee and headroom and as large a boot volume (550 litres) as the new Škoda Rapid. "This is an extremely flexible saloon, and its boot has estate-car qualities," says Vahland.
 "Simply clever": the car with the ice scraper inside the fuel filler flap
As in every Škoda, the subject of practicality has a special emphasis in the new ŠKODA Rapid. The new model features no less than 19 "simply clever" solutions. One example of a solution that is especially ingenious, is the ice scraper integrated in the fuel filler flap, providing the ice scraper with a fixed space in the car, so no more cumbersome searches in winter. Other practical solutions include the reversible floor covering in the boot and practical holder underneath the driver's seat for the warning vest that is mandatory in many countries.
The Škoda Rapid is the brand's first series car to feature ŠKODA's new design: attractive, modern, clear, precise and timelessly elegant. At the centre of the car's front is the new ŠKODA logo: a precisely executed winged arrow in chrome set on a black matte base and framed by a fine chrome line. The positioning of the car's fog-lamps and headlights is reminiscent of a cloverleaf. The Rapid's elegant side aspect impresses with a coupé-like silhouette and a clear division of surfaces and lines. The car's rear end again stands for clarity, freshness and precision: the taillights show the ŠKODA-typical C design in its new shape with a fine crystalline grind.
In the field of safety, the ŠKODA Rapid impresses with a comprehensive active and passive safety equipment. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is standard in many EU countries. The engine line-up in Europe includes four petrol and two diesel aggregates, with five especially efficient GreenTec variants also available from launch.