Hot News: Skoda Plans to Build Rapid Hatchback

The Czech firm’s sales and marketing boss, Jürgen Stackmann, said the car would be shorter than the notchback Rapid and would feature a more Golf–like rear end.

The car was previewed as the Vision D concept at last year’s Geneva motor show. It featured bolder wheel arches and slimmer lights than the production Rapid’s. The final version is planned for launch towards the end of next year.

However, it won’t exactly mirror the Vision D’s look. “It’s not that car,” Stackmann told Autocar. Nor would he reveal the new hatchback’s name, although he did confirm that there will be no three-door version of the Rapid because the market volumes would be too low.

Thanks to: Autocar

Spied: 2014 Opel/Vauxhall Astra Cabriolet

The new Vauxhall Astra cabriolet is getting closer to production, as these spy shots reveal. The heavy cladding of previous mules has been shed, leaving behind a sporty silhouette that will be fully unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Unlike the old Astra TwinTop, the newcomer gets a fabric roof rather than a folding hard-top but remains a four-seater model. The Astra name is also likely to be dropped completely when the car is unveiled. Former Vauxhall boss Nick Reilly told Auto Express: “Calibra is a possible name, as well as Manta."

Underneath the camouflage it looks as though the cabriolet will get styling inspired by the sporty Astra GTC. That means pronounced creases in the bodywork and an aggressive bodykit, alongside ‘eagle-eye’ LED lights. A few chassis tweaks from the GTC will help sharpen up the handling too.

Engines will be borrowed from the rest of the Astra line-up, so expect to see a 1.4-litre, 1.6 and 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines featuring alongside a range of 1.7 and 2.0-litre diesels.

The Vauxhall Astra cabriolet will go on sale next year and is expected to cost around £23,000. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express