Skoda India has officially launched the Automatic range of their best selling Rapid mid size Sedan. Launched earlier this year, the BS6 Rapid TSI was available with only a 6 speed manual transmission till now.

The Skoda Rapid BS6 is available with a 1.0L TSI 3 cyl turbo petrol engine only producing 110PS Power and 175NM Torque. The manufacturer has introduced a new 6 speed torque converter automatic transmission which is the same as on the Polo and Vento TSI.

This Automatic gearbox is available on all except the entry level Rider variant of the Rapid TSI:

• Rider plus

• Ambition

• Onyx

• Style

• Monte Carlo

Other than the transmission

changes, the top spec Style variant of the Rapid Sedan will carry forward the same features as before:

• Projector headlamps with LED DRLs

• Auto folding ORVMs

• 16” Alloy wheels

• Automatic climate control

• Auto headlamps & wipers

• Cruise control

• 7” Touchscreen system

• Android auto & Apple carplay

• Reverse camera

• 6 way adjustable driver seat with lumbar support

• Leather upholstery

• Auto dimming IRVM

• Front and Rear centre armrests

• Smart Power windows with anti pinch

• Remote central locking

• Rear defogger

• Front and rear fog lamps

Safety:

       Safety features on the Rapid TSI includes:

• ABS with EBD

• Dual airbags

• Side airbags (on Style variant only)

• Perimetric alarm system

• Pretensioner seatbelts

Launch & price:

        The new Automatic range of the Skoda Rapid TSI is priced from Rs9.49L to Rs13.29L (Ex-showroom prices); at a premium of around ?1.5L over the manual variants. The new Rapid TSI competes against the likes of the VW Vento TSI, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, the new Honda City and the Toyota Yaris. 

Ford Motor Company and Mahindra & Mahindra have dissolved their joint venture that was announced in October 2019.  In the official statements issued separately by Ford and Mahindra, both automakers have mutually decided to part ways and function as separate entities.

Overview

On the 1st of October 2019, Ford India and Mahindra had signed an agreement in Mumbai to create a joint venture that will develop, market and distribute Ford vehicles in India along with Mahindra vehicles in high-growth emerging markets overseas. The JV was to see Mahindra having the 51 percent controlling stake and Ford owning a 49 percent stake. Ford

was to transfer its India operations to the JV, including its personnel and assembly plants in Chennai and Sanand. Ford was to retain the Ford engine plant operations in Sanand as well as the Global Business Services unit, Ford Credit and Ford Smart Mobility. The JV was planned to be the next step in the strategic alliance forged between both brands back in September 2017.

The main aim of the joint venture was to grow the Ford brand in India and export its products to Ford entities globally. Both manufacturers were to share components, platforms, technology and engineering capabilities on their new cars.

Reason for dissolving:

According to the companies, the reasons to call off this JV were “Fundamental changes in global economic and business conditions; caused, in part, by the global pandemic over the past 15 months.”

Upcoming products:

Ford has already been developing its next big launch, the new C-SUV ( C757) based on the next-gen  Mahindra XUV500 (W601). This new SUV was already planned for an early-2022 launch. Therefore, it's likely that Ford will enter into a contract manufacturing arrangement with Mahindra to build the C-SUV in its Chakan plant. Ford is also likely to source the 1.2L TGDI engine from Mahindra for the upgraded 2021 Ecosport compact SUV. The Ford C-SUV too will use the same 2-litre petrol and 2.2 diesel engines that will power the next XUV500.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Based on the best selling XM variant, this new XM(S) variant offers the following additional features:

• Electric sunroof with anti pinch

• Automatic headlamps

• Automatic wipers

• Steering mounted audio controls

Other than these features, the XM(S) will carry forward the same specifications as on the XM variant. Standard features will include:

• Projector headlamps with LED DRLs

• Auto folding ORVMs

• Roof rails

• 16” Steel wheels with wheel covers

• Manual AC

• Harman audio system with 4 speakers

• Digital instrument cluster

• Power windows

• Remote central locking

• Follow me headlamps

Safety:

       Standard safety features on the Nexon BS6 include:

• ABS with EBD

• Corner stability control

• Dual airbags

• Electronic stability program

• Traction control

• Hill hold control

• Roll over mitigation

• Electronic brake prefill

• Hydraulic brake assist

• Brake disc wiping

Powertrains:

       The XM(S) variant will be available

with both, petrol and diesel engine options in manual and automatic versions. The 1.2L Revotron turbo petrol produces 120PS Power while the 1.5L Revotorq turbo diesel produces 110PS Power. Both engines are available with three drive modes; Eco, City and Sport modes. A 6 speed manual transmission will be standard whereas the XMA(S) variants will receive a 6 speed Automated Manual Transmission.

Launch & price:

        The new XM(S) variants are priced at Rs8.36L & Rs9.70L ex-showroom for the petrol and diesel versions respectively whereas the AMT equipped XMA(S) variants are available at Rs8.96L for the petrol and Rs10.30L for the diesel versions. Priced at around Rs60,000 more than the standard XM/XMA variants, these new variants could attract the feature focused buyers. This pricing also makes the Nexon XM (S) the most affordable Sunroof equipped car in the Indian market.