The Skoda Rapid Is Set To Ditch Its 1.5 Diesel For A BS6 1.0-litre TSI Heart

• The 1.0-litre TSI engine could make its debut at the Auto Expo 2020.
• It comes in two states of tune: 95PS/175Nm and 115PS/200Nm.
• A manual and DSG transmission option will be offered with this powertrain.
• The Volkswagen Polo and Vento will also come with this powertrain.

The Skoda Rapid is set to get a new heart in the form of a new 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine. This BS6-compliant powertrain will also make its way to the Volkswagen Vento and Polo. But there's a trade-off. The 1.5-litre TDI engine will face the axe in April 2020 due to the upcoming BS6 emission norms. This means that Rapid, Vento and Polo will be petrol-only models from April 2020. It’s likely that the 1.0-litre TSI engine could make its India debut at the Auto Expo 2020 with a launch shortly thereafter. 

The new 1.0-litre TSI engine is already on sale in various Skoda and Volkswagen models in the international market. It comes in two states of tune: 95PS/175Nm and 115PS/200Nm, and is offered with either a manual or DSG transmission. Skoda is likely to offer the Rapid with the higher-spec 115PS and a manual and DSG transmission option. The Volkswagen Vento will also be offered with this particular powertrain.  

The tried-and-tested 1.5-litre TDI powertrains will be discontinued in April 2020 due to the upcoming BS6 emission norms. The 1.5-litre TDI engine comes in two states of tune: 90PS/230Nm and 110PS/250Nm. The lower powered version is offered only with a 5-speed manual while the higher-spec version comes with a 7-speed DSG option as well. So if you’re a diesel-head who love driving a torquey diesel, this is the right time to buy a Skoda Rapid TDI as there’s a hefty discount on it.  

The discontinuation of the 1.5-litre TDI unit would result in the Polo, Rapid and Vento becoming petrol-only models in April 2020. The GT TSI’s 1.2-litre TSI will also be traded in for the smaller 115 PS 1.0-litre TSI powertrain as it won’t be upgraded to meet BS6 emission norms.

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is likely to showcase the new 1.0-litre TSI powertrain at the Auto Expo and we expect it to launch shortly thereafter. Stay tuned to ZigWheels for further updates in this space.