The S2000 rally car looks ace, as it is wider and lower. Still like the Monte too.

Yep, I've seen a few Monte's around and they do look very nice. I think it's all in the detailing. Like I said though, the Fabia II has grown on me since it was launched and actually quite like them, it was just my original impression that wasn't positive.

I tend not to like most hatchbacks though I'm afraid, mainly because most UK buyers have been conned in to thinking that "hatchback" automatically means "practical", never mind the fact that most hatches have pitifully small boots.

The Fabia isn't a car that suffers from this mind you, but Corsa's etc have truly pathetic loading spaces IMO and quoting the capacity in litres isn't always helpful, in terms of litres there wasn't a lot between my old Mk1 Fabia (260 litres) and the Citigo (251 litres). And yet when I looked in the boot of a Citigo my immediate reaction was: There's no way on earth I'm getting my Guitar and Multi-effects board in there!

(Incidentally, the Rapid swallows them easily without even having to do tetris style rotations )

I tend not to like most hatchbacks though I'm afraid, mainly because most UK buyers have been conned in to thinking that "hatchback" automatically means "practical", never mind the fact that most hatches have pitifully small boots.

Even though it's boot won't be as big as yours, it sounds like the Spaceback is aimed at people like you - hatchback style but with a decent boot!

Possibly. If the loading lip is lower there's a reasonable case to make for it being more young-family-friendly.

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I'm waiting until I can see this in the flesh before I totally formulate any sort of definite opinion on it, but I STILL do not get it at all.

If the Rapid is pie and mash, it's like somebody has mooched in and thought, lets take away the mash and put peanut butter there instead... No, I don't really understand that analogy either, but anyway people will be all like 'are you serious? ...dude, why?'.

It's a maladjusted Rapid. It makes no sense, nobody gets the point of it, I don't understand why anybody is going to say 'Oh no let's not get the normal Rapid, we need a spaceback!'. Speculation at this point leads me to think that the spaceback will also be more expensive than the notchback by a fair margin, who knows, perhaps a grand or two.

Some people won't want a car as long as the current Rapid, and may prefer the styling of the Spaceback. The Spaceback is supposed to be aimed more at Wetsern European customers who prefer hatchbacks/estates rather than liftbacks-which-look-like-saloons.

I think that's the key point. For whatever reason, the majority of car buyers in the UK have decided that they hate "saloons". Because they're "not practical". Given the state of a lot of cars I see driving around though I'm beginning to suspect that "not practical" actually translates to "I can't reverse park for s***"

Some more pics here of people thinking it will be more like a station wagon. Have they even seen the mules?! If they had they will realise it won't look like this.

http://www.carscoops...koda-rapid.html

...Now it does make sense as a 'full' estate, as above. I actually quite like it both in terms of looks and the blatently obvious increase in practicality. Those pics, if real, suggest that you could probably get lost in the boot for weeks before anybody finds you.

Why have a spaceback with, say for example, 560/570 litres over the standard 550 when you could have a spaceback like this with say 650? if you get my drift.

That looks pretty good. I'd buy one, but alas it will be shorter than that and a bit dumpy.

Previous posters said A3 sportback look a like and they seem to be right from spy shots.

...Now it does make sense as a 'full' estate, as above. I actually quite like it both in terms of looks and the blatently obvious increase in practicality. Those pics, if real, suggest that you could probably get lost in the boot for weeks before anybody finds you.

Why have a spaceback with, say for example, 560/570 litres over the standard 550 when you could have a spaceback like this with say 650? if you get my drift.

Not gonna happen, 650 is massive (bigger than a Superb I think!)

Superb is just a shade under 600 I think currently. Not sure what the facelift will be (if any different).

Fair cop, just a stab in the dark on my part. If the superb is 600L, it just makes you realise how big the Rapid boot is for the class.

Pratical Skoda!

Edit: Superb estate is 633L and the hatch (or notch/liftback?) 565L. The Superb is 355mm longer and the wheelbase is 159mm longer.

Edit: Superb estate is 633L and the hatch (or notch/liftback?) 565L. The Superb is 355mm longer and the wheelbase is 159mm longer.

Really? If I go to SUK site and go to the superb drop down box it says the hatch is 595L :/

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Really? If I go to SUK site and go to the superb drop down box it says the hatch is 595L :/

I think you're right Thecko mate - Parker's website says 565 but everywhere else 595, D'oh!

A Skoda local dealer told me recently they expect this fall a Rapid based hatch, not an estate, to be added to the Skoda lineup. Looking to the spy photos and videos proves he's right. Some time ago a Skoda spokesman also said Spaceback will be some 20 cm shorter than Rapid. It means it will be around 4.29 meters. This way, its boot could measure more than 400 liters, maybe 430, compared to the 530 liters of Rapid (spare wheel included).

I'm very interested in this car: I'd need more headroom for rear seat passengers that I hope a the less sloping roofline will provide.

Crikey. What about the Rapid Sport with two colour paintwork and two slightly dressed birds holding it up. Tasty. On the Global website. Somewhere.

I wonder if this is a new Skoda /VAG policy - compete with a stretch of the platform below?

- Octavia - Passat size, Golf platform

- Rapid sportback - Golf size, Fabia platform

My 2p's worth: having an estate between Fabia and Octavia in size makes sense, but a short-rear Rapid hatch seems too niche (e.g. why not buy a Leon on the better Golf platform?). I think I would trade a few cm from the wheelbase to put in the luggage area... And I'm sure I'm not the only Octavia 1 or 2 estate owner for whom the 3 is too long as a potential replacement... the Leon ST might be right-sized for the like of me though.

I wonder if this is a new Skoda /VAG policy - compete with a stretch of the platform below?

- Octavia - Passat size, Golf platform

- Rapid sportback - Golf size, Fabia platform

Exactly. Now that Czech wages are not as cheap as they used to be this is one way of offering "more car for the money"

Rapid isn't fabia platform though, it's new polo and Octavia platform and is more comparable to the new jetta.

The point still holds though..

I'm looking forward to the Spaceback.. I hope it holds up to the promise of being "more sporty" and "something different for Skoda". They do have a gap in the range for a truly Golf-ish sized hatch.

I stil think it will cross over with the current Rapid and Octavia too much as all 3 will effectively be C-segment 5dr hatchbacks. Think the marketing and pricing teams will have a tough job!

This darn car still bugs me. I've been to look at it in the flesh again. It doesn't look any better. It looks cheap. It looks Dacia. If you told me they had re-opened the Trabant plant to knock out Rapids I would believe you.

AND I can't really put my finger on it. There is something about it. It just does not say quality when you look at any part. And how I dislike the lack of Guigiaro doors, and the Morris Minor tyres at 185 tread width... I now hear of the novel ride levelling device of water filled rear doors. and the strange anti dozing-off device of a metal bar in the seats to cut off the blood flow to your buttocks.

Thats cheap. Oh damn and damn I wanted one !!! Where I live in south Spain my sightings are in double figures. I've seen two.

And how I dislike the lack of Guigiaro doors, and the Morris Minor tyres at 185 tread width... I now hear of the novel ride levelling device of water filled rear doors. and the strange anti dozing-off device of a metal bar in the seats to cut off the blood flow to your buttocks.

Thats cheap. Oh damn and damn I wanted one !!! Where I live in south Spain my sightings are in double figures. I've seen two.

Sarcasm ?????

Cor Snot

Edited 25 June, 201312 yr by HopeImRight