The upcoming C-segment sedan from Skoda will be called the Lauretta and not the Rapid. The all new midsize saloon is based on the Volkswagen Vento and will draw heavy inspiration from the Fabia in its design. The Lauretta will share engines with the Vento and will come with a 1.6-liter petrol and 1.5-liter diesel motor both of which produce 105 BHP of power. These engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and we can expect an automatic variant as well. Skoda will undercut pricing of the Vento by atleast Rs. 20,000/-, so we can expect the Lauretta prices to start at Rs. 6.79 lakhs for the petrol and Rs. 7.79 lakhs for the diesel.
Skoda will offer a good list of equipment on the Lauretta. Just like the Polo-Fabia share underpinnings, the Vento-Lauretta will do the same. The traditional Skoda family design will adorn the front, while the rest of the car will look alot like the Vento. Skoda is expected to launch the Lauretta in November, 2011 and will start deliveries in December. We can expect three variants each in petrol and diesel guise. It will be interesting to see how Skoda differentiates itself amidst the growing competition in the C-segment, where the Nissan Sunny is the only car left to debut.
Source – ACI
