Skoda releases Rapid Monte Carlo

Skoda Australia has announced pricing for the Rapid Monte Carlo ahead of first deliveries in August, as part of an upgraded MY16 Skoda range.

Two versions of the range-topping Rapid Spaceback hatch will be offered here: the 81TSI manual ($22,990 plus on-road costs) and the 92TSI DSG ($25,790 plus ORCs).

That represents a premium of about $4000 over the current Rapid 77TSI and 90TSI Ambition models, which will be replaced by upgraded MY16 models at the same time.

The Rapid Monte Carlo will replace the top-shelf Rapid 90TSI DSG Elegance ($23,750) and adds a raft of extra equipment and sportier cosmetics, including 17-inch black 'Savio' alloy wheels and xenon headlights.

Also adding aggression to the small Czech hatchback are black headlight and foglight surrounds, a black grille, black side mirrors and an extended glass tailgate.

Inside, there's a panoramic glass roof, privacy glass, carbon-style dashboard inserts, a black instrument cluster and unique door sills.

Added equipment includes rear parking sensors, light assist, rain-sensing wipers, front foglights with cornering function and height-adjustable driver and passenger seats.

"The Fabia Monte Carlo was a great car in our range and one that customers loved," said Director of Skoda Australia, Michael Irmer at this week's launch of the third-generation Fabia hatch and wagon.

"We're very pleased to be introducing a new Monte Carlo to our range, this time offering the unique upgrades to the extremely versatile Rapid model. It seems you can have your cake and eat it too."

While the Monte Carlo nameplate returns to Skoda's Australian range on the Rapid, a Monte Carlo model will not top the new Fabia line-up until next year – despite the fact it was revealed at the Geneva motor show in March.

Meantime, Skoda's MY16 upgrades bring cleaner and more powerful engines and more equipment to the Rapid, Octavia and Yeti model lines – but not the Superb flagship, which will be replaced in the first half of next year.

All engines now meet the Euro 6 emissions standard, thanks in part to the fitment of idle-stop and brake energy recuperation systems.

Both the 77kW 1.2-litre turbo-petrol 77TSI Rapid and Yeti models now receive an 81kW 81TSI engine, with the 90kW 1.4-litre turbo-petrol 90TSI versions moving to a 92kW power output for both models, which will now both be called 90TSI. Torque remains unchanged at 200Nm.

The entry-level version of Skoda's top-selling Octavia receives the biggest power increase – 103kW to 110kW – while the 132TSI engine is now offered solely in the Octavia Scout.

As far as MY16 equipment upgrades go, the Rapid now receives a 5.0-inch touch-screen 'Swing' radio based on Volkswagen Group's modular infotainment matrix (MIB), and a new Image Pack adds LED daytime running lights and 17-inch alloy wheels with a black finish.

The Octavia's 5.8-inch Bolero radio grows in size to 6.5 inches and the 8.0-inch Columbus unit gains WiFi and the latest SmartLink multimedia technology.

The Yeti Outdoor 4x4 also now receives 17-inch black 'Erebus' alloy wheels, replacing the standard silver alloys offered in the previous model year.

Pricing for the MY16 Skoda range – excluding the new Fabia – is yet to be announced, but the full list of changes is as follows: