Reading what car at work ( they are working me hard today!) and it says the rapid spaceback will be released in autumn 2013, and describes it as a 'shorter, sportier version of the rapid'

Anyone else heard anything , or got any more detailes? Sounds interesting

Sounds like it may be half way between a Golf-sized hatch and a Rapid estate. People in the Czech Republic who have seen it testing described it as a "more rounded Fabia Combi".

I went to a dealer when the Rapid first appeared, just out of curiosity. I asked the sales chap if the hatch version would be coming and he confirmed late 2013.

Something like this perhaps:

now that i do like

Now I do like that too

I think it'll be a more Audi A3 Sportback type car, hopefully sligtly shorter than the current Rapid "liftback", then I might be interested.

I had a brief twitter chat with @ianreid , whatcar journalist when they started doing stories about the rapid last year, asking if a vRS was coming.

Back then they were already talking about a 2 door sporty hatch version

I've looked but the tweets and links have disappeared :(

found it

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/skoda-rapid-coupe-planned/263151

If we do get some kind of Coupe eventually I don't think it will be the model being released this year.

Based on what Volkswagen has launched in China with the Jetta ( a sister car of the Rapid, which is also built in China), maybe the interior of the Rapid spaceback could look like this?

http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/14890/10/1814575.html

thanks for the relies, all looks good, when termed "sporty" version, i hope it will be a vRS, I would certainly consider a vRS "sportback" as my next car

Hi all,

I would definitely be interested in one of them in the above photo, very nice indeed.

Autobild's photoshop of the Rapid Spaceback, if it looked like this I might want one

It is the second of OctaviaT81's images that Autocar has used today to announce an autumn 2013 debut.

I think someone at Skoda indicated some time ago that a car like this had been given the green light instead of a possible 2 door coupe.

I do like this pic/rendering. Guessing this has the same wheelbase as the Rapid but a smaller boot. That would be quite a useful size and close to a Golf in proportions. I wonder if it will get the new engines?

The newer 1.2TSI is coming at some point (next year I think)

Spoke to the dealer principle today at the Octavia 3 launch who said he saw the Rapid Spaceback at the Octy launch in Seville and he said it looked very good.

Autobild's photoshop of the Rapid Spaceback, if it looked like this I might want one

Looks like a Honda Edix/FR-V.

Given the vRS models are mainly a UK strong card I personally don;'t think a 2 door rapid is on the cards.

The sportback, aka estate makes far more sense.

When I've asked about a 'rapid' rapid, I've never gotten a no, more a knowing no idea, possibly down the road. Mind you we don't hold as much media clout as the big auto mags so I'd take there tips as circulation boosters or real. Anything 12+months out though is highly subjective I'd say.

I do like some of these photochops, but sorry coops yours looks like one of those bmw splodges. Not my cup o tea, but I've a spot spot for estates.

Maybe these last few remind me of a lwb volvo c30...

would be great if what they made was like a slightly smaller, Skoda version of the scirocco

Whatever the shape, put 2.0CR in it... and disc rear brakes.

Whatever the shape, put 2.0CR in it... and disc rear brakes.

All UK Rapids apart from the 12v 1.2 have rear discs AFAIK.

"Disc brakes rear (except 1.2 75PS)"

You are 100% correct, I guess I looked for too long on importer websites, no point doing factory order from the UK until SUK prices are lowered. In any case, it's the 2.0CR bit I am after

Spaceback spy photos... Please ignore all details apart from the shape of the bodyshell as they are a disguise (you will notice they badged it as a Fabia!)

http://www.autoforum.cz/predstaveni/skoda-rapid-spaceback-pristizena-v-evrope-male-kombi-bude-i-pro-nas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=rss

Well.......disguise or not 1st impression is that it looks as dull as dishwater. :(