The hatchback could use the Rapid’s underpinning.
Skoda Auto India discontinued its hatchback offering, the Fabia, last year. The Fabia was discontinued in India owing to huge losses that incurred on selling the car. Since then, the company has focused on selling cars like the Rapid and higher to it, and will continue with this strategy at least until 2017, reports Autocar India.
The old Fabia was a loss making product for the company in India.
The publication was told by the company’s managing director, Mr. Sudhir Rao, that a Fabia-type car with a “mix of various platforms and components” could be developed provided cars like the Rapid facelift succeeded in the market.
The publication states that engineers could use the current Rapid’s platform and mechanicals to spawn a new hatchback, having a new name. However, it is unlikely for the new car to come before 2017.
Speaking to Indian Autos Blog at the refreshed Yeti’s launch this month, Mr. Pawel Szuflak, Director for Sales and Marketing for Skoda Auto India Private Limited, said that the new generation Fabia which is announced for the European market will not see an Indian launch.
The new Fabia, premiering in Europe next week, is ruled out for India.
Reports say that the new Fabia would cost a lot more than the older model, which would make it very difficult for the company to price it competitively in India.
Also read: New Skoda Rapid vs new VW Vento vs Honda City vs Maruti Ciaz vs Hyundai Verna spec sheet comparo
Competitors: Maruti Swift, Hyundai Elite i20, VW Polo, Honda Jazz, Tata Bolt
Expected Price: INR 4.5-7 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: 2017
Skoda Rapid Facelift with Elegance Black Package – Image Gallery (Unrelated)
[Source - Autocar India]
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