Photo: SB-Medien
Our spy photographers stationed in the Alps have snapped a weird-looking mule. It's got the body of the new 2017 SEAT Ibiza, but the face is unmistakably that of a Skoda. The most reasonable explanation is that we're looking at an early mule for the Skoda Rapid.
Skoda and SEAT co-developed the current Rapid notchback, also sold as the Toledo. The Czech automaker went a step further by adding the Rapid Spaceback to the range, which is based on the same platform.
Which platform? It's called the PQ25, and it underpins the previous generation of the Fabia, Polo, and Ibiza. It's not one of the VW Group's crowning achievements, to say the least.
Our carparazzi say that this is a mule for the next Rapid. Their logic is based on the fact that the Rapid sedan was launched way back in 2012 and is thus due for a makeover. While that might be true, a case can also be made for the Fabia.
For starters, the current Rapid is much bigger than the Ibiza, and it would become larger still in its second incarnation. What's more, the Czech economy car just got a new set of engines and some mild updates, making the timing of this test look odd.
Even though the current Fabia was launched about three years ago, it too is based on the PQ25 platform. It's already outclassed by some of its competitors, like the Fiesta and Polo, which is not good for one of the Top 3 Skoda best-sellers.
A new Fabia would come much closer to the proportions of the Ibiza. Indeed, we think it's going to have the same wheelbase. Do you see any signs of a stretched body or wider tracks on this Alpine prototype? We don't, which is why we'll probably hear about the shortest ever lived Fabia generation in the next few months.
One thing is for sure, though: both the next-gen Fabia and Rapid will be underpinned by the MQB A0, not the full-fat MQB, the main difference being a solid rear axle and lack of AWD availability.
Which platform? It's called the PQ25, and it underpins the previous generation of the Fabia, Polo, and Ibiza. It's not one of the VW Group's crowning achievements, to say the least.
Our carparazzi say that this is a mule for the next Rapid. Their logic is based on the fact that the Rapid sedan was launched way back in 2012 and is thus due for a makeover. While that might be true, a case can also be made for the Fabia.
For starters, the current Rapid is much bigger than the Ibiza, and it would become larger still in its second incarnation. What's more, the Czech economy car just got a new set of engines and some mild updates, making the timing of this test look odd.
Even though the current Fabia was launched about three years ago, it too is based on the PQ25 platform. It's already outclassed by some of its competitors, like the Fiesta and Polo, which is not good for one of the Top 3 Skoda best-sellers.
A new Fabia would come much closer to the proportions of the Ibiza. Indeed, we think it's going to have the same wheelbase. Do you see any signs of a stretched body or wider tracks on this Alpine prototype? We don't, which is why we'll probably hear about the shortest ever lived Fabia generation in the next few months.
One thing is for sure, though: both the next-gen Fabia and Rapid will be underpinned by the MQB A0, not the full-fat MQB, the main difference being a solid rear axle and lack of AWD availability.
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