Skoda launches Rapid Monte Carlo at Rs 10.75 lakh; to take on 2017 Hyundai Verna, Honda City

Key highlights:

• Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo priced at Rs 10.75 lakh (ex-showroom)
• Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo is competitively priced against mid variants of the Honda City, 2017 Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz
• 2017 Hyundai Verna mid variants are priced between Rs 9.49 lakh to Rs 12.23 lakh

Skoda Auto on Tuesday launched a new edition of the Rapid called Monte Carlo priced at Rs 10.75 lakh (ex-showroom). The Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo is positioned as a sporty variant of the sedan and is most affordable product from the Skoda models line-up.

The base variant of the Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo is a 1.6 litre petrol variant and the top-end version is the 1.5-litre diesel automatic that is priced at Rs 13.57 lakh. In all Skoda has launched four variants of the Rapid Monte Carlo.

The Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo's 1.6 litre MPI petrol engine gives out a maximum power of 105BHP and peak torque of 153Nm. The engine comes with either a five-speed manual or a six speed automatic gearbox.

In terms of fuel efficiency it gives 15.41km per litre for the manual transmission variants and 14.84 km per litre for the automatic variants.

It also has a 1.5 litre TDI diesel engine which gives a peak power of 110PS and torque of 250Nm. This is mated with a five-speed manual and seven-speed DSG gearbox.

In terms of the interiors, the Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo gets all-black interiors, a new steering wheel, red and black leatherette seats and stainless steel foot pedals. It also comes with a 6.5 inch system with SmartLink and Mirrorlink, combined with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

While the Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo 1.6 petrol MT (manual) is priced at Rs 10.75 lakh, the automatic variant of the same is priced at Rs 11.97 lakh, the 1.5 litre diesel manual costs Rs 12.46 lakh and the automatic variant of the same is Rs 13.57 lakh.

At these prices the Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo is competitively priced to take on the likes of new Honda City, 2017 Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.

The base variant of the Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo will compete with the mid and high-end variants of all of these sedans. For instance, the 2017 Hyundai Verna which was launched today itself has mid variants such as SX MT (manual) which is priced at Rs 9.49 lakh and the SX(O) which is up to Rs 12.23 lakh.

The 2017 Hyundai Verna also has the diesel variants such as the EX manual which is priced at Rs 9.99 lakh and the top-end SX+ variant which is priced at Rs 12.61 lakh.

The new Honda City too is priced between Rs 8.46 lakh to Rs 13.44 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and hence the mid and high-end segment cars will face competition from the Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo.

Similarly, Volkswagen Vento has variants priced between Rs 8.05 lakh to Rs 13.64 lakh (ex-showroom) and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is priced between Rs 7.66 lakh to Rs 11.55 lakh (ex-showroom).

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