Rs 6,75,000* - Rs 9,19,000*
Skoda Rapid Review
Skoda Rapid Overall
Skoda India has launched its latest invent “Skoda Rapid” residing in the C-Segment. With Skoda India having presence in most of the car segments, the company has made one more addition in sedan car segment by launching the all new smoking hot Skoda Rapid. This latest entry in the fleet of Skoda India is a startling resemblance to its sibling Volkswagen’s Vento. Skoda Rapid incorporates the same engine as added in VW Vento i.e. 1.6L petrol/diesel added with dual transmission modes (Auto/Manual).
Skoda Rapid boasts of offering good competition to other cars present in this segment. The Skoda Rapid price at Rs 6.75 lakh for the base petrol variant will act as a spark for the sales of the sedan and stir the competition within the C segment sedan cars in India. After the last launch of Skoda Yeti – in the SUV segment, “Skoda Rapid” is marching forward now in Skoda’s parade. Skoda India has installed some high-end tech specs in Skoda Rapid making it a milestone in sedan car segment. So sit tight for a whole new riding experience with “Skoda Rapid”.
Skoda Auto started its operations in India as Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd in November 2001. In India, the company is currently selling following car models – Skoda Laura, Skoda Fabia (manufactured in India) and Skoda Superb, Skoda Yeti (Imported) with Skoda Octavia model discontinued in 2010. It is a known fact that Skoda India never compromises on comfort, technology and looks, and this time also it is evident that they have delivered a mind-suiting eye candy. The Czech carmaker seems to be on the track to further revolutionize India with Skoda Rapid. Rapid is being built at the company’s Chakan facility in Pune and Indian will remain the manufacturing hub for Rapid.
Skoda Rapid comes in both petrol as well as the diesel variants. The diesel Skoda Rapid is powered with 1.6 litre of TDi with 1598 cc displacement unit that produces 105 PS of power along with 250 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the petrol variant of Skoda Rapid comes with 1.6 litre-1598 cc of MPI unit, which churns out 105 PS of power together with 153 Nm of torque. This engine is more powerful than rival Honda City which displaces only 1497 cc under its hood. The diesel version has 5 speed manual gearbox whereas the petrol version has a choice of 6 speed automatic gearbox with a 5 speed manual standard gearbox option. Skoda Rapid petrol boasts of delivering 12-14 kmpl from the automatic version. The Diesel engine might get you 13.4 kmpl under extreme driving conditions; while around 16 kmpl will be possible in routine running.
Being positioned in the premium car category, Skoda has pitched in an aggressive strategy with Rapid in order to capture the market. With the superior branding and a sales backup of Skoda Fabia and Skoda Laura, the Czech carmaker will experience less effort in popularizing its new sedan Skoda Rapid. Helping this is this fact, that all the parts are highly localized because of the platform sharing with parent company Volkswagen. Besides, the diesel engine on board comes as a added advantage for Rapid in a scenario when petrol prices are too volatile to handle and when rival Honda City is available only in petrol.
Skoda Rapid has prominent exteriors and plush interiors. Skoda Rapid shares a striking similarity with its cousin sedan, Volkswagen Vento. Skoda Rapid has solid and rich exteriors and the emblematic nose accompanied with huge stretched headlamps making it look more delightful. The centre grille of the sedan has a chrome band, which runs all around it together with the traditional Skoda slats in black color placed just under the band. Well, this is absolutely cop pasted from Skoda Fabia. The new sedan also sports a brand new bonnet that has a little pouted design. Massive fog lamps and the front bumper with slot in air dams are decently placed wide and low. The rest of the side profile and beltline of Skoda Rapid is also quite similar to Volkswagen Vento. The waistline of the sedan is very sophisticated and decent. Now the rear part of Skoda Rapid incorporates new tail lamps accompanied with a C shaped glow on brake lamps. The angular press is given to the boot lid, which looks like two dents on either side of registration plates making the back of the Rapid look much different and distinct from Volkswagen Vento. The rear bumper appears to be more clean and chic; rear parking sensors upgrades the quality. In all the exterior of Skoda Rapid are excellent in their own way, despite being similar to Volkswagen Vento.
The interiors of Rapid too are plush and classy and give a tough fight to its rivals in India. The light and dark beige colored dash board sports all advanced equipments including instrument cluster, glove box, music system and air conditioning. The air conditioner also has automatic climate control feature. The 4 spoke steering with telescopic adjustments is clad in leather with chrome insert. The new sedan adorns instrument panel that has green back light, with green needles and tell it all tale trip computer in middle that comprise of clock, DTE (Distance to empty), digital fuel meter and trip meters. Skoda Rapid’s center console is placed slightly at an angle towards driver.
On the safety front, Skoda Rapid has two airbags for the driver and the front passenger besides Anti-lock Braking System, front fog lamps and Electronic BrakeForce Distribution finding a place in Rapid. Engine Immobilizer, Height adjustable 3 point seat belts, high stop LED center brake lights are other features in Skoda Rapid. However, not all variants carry the above mentioned features. Among the comfort features, Rapid features an adjustable power steering, internally adjustable ORVMs with power fold feature, central locking, power windows, adjustable front seats, music system with MP3 and FM integrated with four speakers. The audio player can be protected by a security code.
Overall, Skoda rapid is a decent offering with competitive pricing and can create a lot of action in the C-segment cars. Symbolizing Skoda’s brand value – “Simply Clever”, the Rapid is ideal for the Indian streets with an attractive design, ample space, excellent safety equipment and modern proven technology. With this offering, Rapid is expected to become the cornerstone for brand Skoda in India.
Skoda Rapid boasts of offering good competition to other cars present in this segment. The Skoda Rapid price at Rs 6.75 lakh for the base petrol variant will act as a spark for the sales of the sedan and stir the competition within the C segment sedan cars in India. After the last launch of Skoda Yeti – in the SUV segment, “Skoda Rapid” is marching forward now in Skoda’s parade. Skoda India has installed some high-end tech specs in Skoda Rapid making it a milestone in sedan car segment. So sit tight for a whole new riding experience with “Skoda Rapid”.
Skoda Auto started its operations in India as Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd in November 2001. In India, the company is currently selling following car models – Skoda Laura, Skoda Fabia (manufactured in India) and Skoda Superb, Skoda Yeti (Imported) with Skoda Octavia model discontinued in 2010. It is a known fact that Skoda India never compromises on comfort, technology and looks, and this time also it is evident that they have delivered a mind-suiting eye candy. The Czech carmaker seems to be on the track to further revolutionize India with Skoda Rapid. Rapid is being built at the company’s Chakan facility in Pune and Indian will remain the manufacturing hub for Rapid.
Skoda Rapid comes in both petrol as well as the diesel variants. The diesel Skoda Rapid is powered with 1.6 litre of TDi with 1598 cc displacement unit that produces 105 PS of power along with 250 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the petrol variant of Skoda Rapid comes with 1.6 litre-1598 cc of MPI unit, which churns out 105 PS of power together with 153 Nm of torque. This engine is more powerful than rival Honda City which displaces only 1497 cc under its hood. The diesel version has 5 speed manual gearbox whereas the petrol version has a choice of 6 speed automatic gearbox with a 5 speed manual standard gearbox option. Skoda Rapid petrol boasts of delivering 12-14 kmpl from the automatic version. The Diesel engine might get you 13.4 kmpl under extreme driving conditions; while around 16 kmpl will be possible in routine running.
Being positioned in the premium car category, Skoda has pitched in an aggressive strategy with Rapid in order to capture the market. With the superior branding and a sales backup of Skoda Fabia and Skoda Laura, the Czech carmaker will experience less effort in popularizing its new sedan Skoda Rapid. Helping this is this fact, that all the parts are highly localized because of the platform sharing with parent company Volkswagen. Besides, the diesel engine on board comes as a added advantage for Rapid in a scenario when petrol prices are too volatile to handle and when rival Honda City is available only in petrol.
Skoda Rapid has prominent exteriors and plush interiors. Skoda Rapid shares a striking similarity with its cousin sedan, Volkswagen Vento. Skoda Rapid has solid and rich exteriors and the emblematic nose accompanied with huge stretched headlamps making it look more delightful. The centre grille of the sedan has a chrome band, which runs all around it together with the traditional Skoda slats in black color placed just under the band. Well, this is absolutely cop pasted from Skoda Fabia. The new sedan also sports a brand new bonnet that has a little pouted design. Massive fog lamps and the front bumper with slot in air dams are decently placed wide and low. The rest of the side profile and beltline of Skoda Rapid is also quite similar to Volkswagen Vento. The waistline of the sedan is very sophisticated and decent. Now the rear part of Skoda Rapid incorporates new tail lamps accompanied with a C shaped glow on brake lamps. The angular press is given to the boot lid, which looks like two dents on either side of registration plates making the back of the Rapid look much different and distinct from Volkswagen Vento. The rear bumper appears to be more clean and chic; rear parking sensors upgrades the quality. In all the exterior of Skoda Rapid are excellent in their own way, despite being similar to Volkswagen Vento.
The interiors of Rapid too are plush and classy and give a tough fight to its rivals in India. The light and dark beige colored dash board sports all advanced equipments including instrument cluster, glove box, music system and air conditioning. The air conditioner also has automatic climate control feature. The 4 spoke steering with telescopic adjustments is clad in leather with chrome insert. The new sedan adorns instrument panel that has green back light, with green needles and tell it all tale trip computer in middle that comprise of clock, DTE (Distance to empty), digital fuel meter and trip meters. Skoda Rapid’s center console is placed slightly at an angle towards driver.
On the safety front, Skoda Rapid has two airbags for the driver and the front passenger besides Anti-lock Braking System, front fog lamps and Electronic BrakeForce Distribution finding a place in Rapid. Engine Immobilizer, Height adjustable 3 point seat belts, high stop LED center brake lights are other features in Skoda Rapid. However, not all variants carry the above mentioned features. Among the comfort features, Rapid features an adjustable power steering, internally adjustable ORVMs with power fold feature, central locking, power windows, adjustable front seats, music system with MP3 and FM integrated with four speakers. The audio player can be protected by a security code.
Overall, Skoda rapid is a decent offering with competitive pricing and can create a lot of action in the C-segment cars. Symbolizing Skoda’s brand value – “Simply Clever”, the Rapid is ideal for the Indian streets with an attractive design, ample space, excellent safety equipment and modern proven technology. With this offering, Rapid is expected to become the cornerstone for brand Skoda in India.
Skoda Rapid Models
Skoda Rapid Petrol Models
Skoda Rapid 1.6 MPI Active | This is the base variant with 1.6 L petrol engine. It has manual central door locking, manual AC with adjustable rear AC vents, anti glare rear view mirrors, rear defogger, rough road package, engine immobilizer, front center armrest, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel, and anti pinch system. |
Skoda Rapid 1.6 MPI Ambition | This is also the petrol variant with 5 speed manual transmission. It is painted in metallic colors. Remote central door locking is present. ABS, front rear fog lamps and driver airbag are added in the model. Steel wheels, Body colored ORVMs and door handles, remote control with foldable key, driver seat height adjuster and rear center armrest are other goodies stuffed in Ambition variant. |
Skoda Rapid 1.6 MPI Elegance | This is the top-end version with petrol guise and manual transmission. 15â?� alloy wheels dress the lower part of this variant. Front passenger airbags are also added. A security code for audio player, AUX ports for media player and memory card, automatic climate control, electrically adjustable mirrors, MID (Mobile Internet Device). |
Skoda Rapid 1.6 MPI AT Ambition | This is the petrol variant wherein the power is mated to a 6-speed Tiptronic transmission. It can give a mileage of 12-14 kmpl. Rest all the features are similar to the Ambition variant. |
Skoda Rapid 1.6 MPI AT Elegance | The top-end petrol version, Elegance, is also available in automatic version. The 1.6 L petrol engine is mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission. |
Skoda Rapid Diesel Models
Skoda Rapid 1.6 TDI Active | The diesel engine does its duty in this base variant. The 1.6 L engine is mated to a 5 speed manual transmission gearbox. Since it is the base variant, customers will have to be satisfied without speakers, automatic AC, Climatronic, alloy wheels etc. |
Skoda Rapid 1.6 TDI Ambition | This is the mid-diesel trim of Skoda Rapid. Rear reading lamp, height adjustable driver seat, rear centre armrest etc are included in the features of this version. |
Skoda Rapid 1.6 TDI Elegance | This is the highest graded model in the diesel line-up. Automatic AC with climate control, security code for audio player, AUX ports for media player with 4 speakers and memory card, automatic climate control, electrically adjustable mirrors, MID (Mobile Internet Device) makes the car looks lavish. |
Skoda Rapid Specifications
Skoda Rapid Variants
Variants | Transmission | Engine Description | Mileage | Power | AC | Power Steering | Central Locking | |
City | Highway | |||||||
1.6 MPI Active(Petrol) | Manual | 1598cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 11.0 | 15.4 | 77kw(105bhp) @ 5250rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
1.6 MPI Ambition(Petrol) | Manual | 1598cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 14.0 | 17.0 | 77kw(105bhp) @ 5250rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
1.6 MPI Elegance(Petrol) | Manual | 1598cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 14.0 | 17.0 | 77kw(105bhp) @ 5250rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
1.6 MPI AT Ambition (Petrol) | Automatic | 1598cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 14.0 | 17.0 | 77kw(105bhp) @ 5250rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
1.6 MPI AT Elegance (Petrol) | Automatic | 1598cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 14.0 | 17.0 | 77kw(105bhp) @ 5250rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
1.6 TDI Active(Diesel) | Manual | 1598cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 16.0 | 20.0 | 77kw(105bhp) @ 4400rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
1.6 TDI Ambition(Diesel) | Manual | 1598cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 16.0 | 20.0 | 77kw(105bhp) @ 4400rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
1.6 TDI Elegance(Diesel) | Manual | 1598cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 16.0 | 20.0 | 77kw(105bhp) @ 4400rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
Skoda Rapid Mileage, Average And Fuel Economy
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Skoda Rapid Power
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Skoda Rapid Colors
These colors are available with all variants of Skoda Rapid
Deep Black Pearl
Cappuccino Beige
Flash Red
Candy White
Brilliant Silve
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Cappuccino Beige
Flash Red
Candy White
Brilliant Silve
r
Skoda Rapid Acceleration & Pick-Up
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Skoda Rapid Exterior
The side profile on the Rapid is very similar to the VW Vento and the waistline can be accorded as very elegant and pleasing. Tinted window frames, body colored door handles, a roof antenna and body color wing mirrors, now becoming very common features in a sedan adorns the mid (Skoda Rapid Ambition) and top (Skoda Rapid Elegance) variants. There is a gloss-black décor on the B pillar of door. The rear quarter glass that is nicely angled on the Skoda Rapid is inspired from VW Vento. The Rapid sports 5-spoke alloy wheels, representing typical Skoda in design and not matching the Vento’s 7-spoke alloy wheels. The base variant is devoid of alloy and manages steel wheels.
The rear of the Rapid receives a pair of refreshed tail lamps that have a kind of `C` glow on the brake lamps when in action. High level LED is used in the third brake lights. The rear windscreen gets defogger with timer. The boot lid gets an angular press, looking like two dents on prism shaped insertions; on both sides of the number plates rendering the rear a different look. The rear bumper with a clean appearance has the rear park sensors that have become a norm in this segment. Overall, Skoda Rapid has classy and elegant exteriors. In order to distinguish it from its hatchback junior, Skoda Rapid has been designed afresh however, people may find some similarity with its hatchback junior Fabia.
Exterior Measurements
As it is based on the Indian needs, Skoda Rapid is compact in size so that it can easily maneuver through even the busiest streets in India. The Rapid is positioned as a family car, compact enough for the city and spacious enough for longer trips. It is more than four meters in length and is with a ground clearance of 168 mm and has a turning circle radius of 10.6 m. The dimensions are as follows: length of the car- 4386mm, width 1699mm, height 1466mm, and wheelbase of 2552mm.
Skoda Rapid Interior
The Rapid acquires a nice dark and light beige colored dash board rendering an airy feel to the passengers. The leather wrapped steering wheel is a four spoke affair with a chrome insert on it rendering a rich look. Height and telescopic adjustment features in steering are standard on all the variants of Rapid. Some parts such as the steering wheel, instrument cluster and audio system are found to be carried over from the Fabia also. The highly informative instrument cluster has two dials reflecting green back light from within. Inside the dials, the green lit needles add to the charm of instrument panel. The entire tell-tale trip computer in the middle includes the digital fuel meter, clock, distance to empty (DTE) and trip meters. There’s a nice chrome strip around the center console that gives a gracious feel to the equipment control. The slightly angled center console not only helps the driver to focus but also adorns the dashboard beautifully. The horn which is not from Volkswagen, nor sounds like the typical Skoda tone, is bit of a disappointment compared to the erstwhile Skoda Octavia.
The AC vents can be opened and closed individually. A single MP3/CD with radio unit with AUX socket, 4 speakers comes with the top end Skoda Rapid Elegance. Under the music system is the single zone climate control unit. Automatic climate control is present on the top-end Elegance model. A 12 V power socket in centre console increases the usability and practicality of Rapid. The gear shifter on the Rapid automatic and the manual gets different gear stalk as compared to the VW Vento. The large sized glove -box in Rapid gets a shutter constructed of superior plastic. Dust and pollen filter and electrically adjustable ORVMs are fixed in Rapid.
Safety and comfort besides feature-rich interiors will be a plus point for Skoda Rapid. It has a seating capacity for five people with seats having lumbar support. The upholstery on the Rapid Elegance is decent and light colored material is used for the seats. The driver’s seat is provided with height adjustment and a height adjusting center arm rest with a little bit of storage space beneath is also added. The front seats are comfortable and well cushioned while the rear seats get a firm cushioning, a foldable center arm rest and height adjustable headrests. The ergo-lever behind the front seat allows the front passenger seat to move forward from the rear. The rear passengers can enjoy two AC vents that are placed behind the center console in between the front two seats. The Rapid interiors look mesmerizing with manual dimming inside mirror, reading centre lights in front and reading spot lamps at rear along with illumination of luggage compartment. The Rapid has a lot of cubbyholes and storage bins spread throughout the cabin area. The door pads sports bottle holders in the front and the rear. The Skoda Rapid cabin made of very high quality plastics and switches/knobs etc gives a nice bright feel.
Interior Comfort
Skoda Rapid takes care of the interior comfort part well as it has been created keeping the Indian customer in mind and marks Skoda’s entry in the extremely important C segment. In order to make it conditioned to Indian roads, Skoda has put in some stunning comfort features inside Skoda Rapid. In all, it is much spacious with comfortable seating for five people and an armrest for driver as well as in the middle of the rear seats. The arm rest serves the purpose for giving comfort at shifting gears but if one wants to keep both the hands on the steering wheel, he will have to raise the position of the arm rest. The front seats and rear seats are comfortable and well cushioned. Height adjustable headrests are given for seats. Besides, there will also be adjustable driver seat with lumbar support. Outside mirrors get electric adjustments on all models. A multi-function display (MFD) giving information about travelling time, distance travelled, average speed, immediate consumption, average consumption, travel distance before refueling, service interval, outside temperature and clock does it s duty.
There is power and height adjusting steering wheel which also has length-adjustment facility. All power windows are anti-pinch windows with one touch up/down but the Rapid does not feature auto lock. Even the co-passenger cannot lock or unlock the vehicle from their door although this feature is present in the Vento. The rear passengers will also get 2 manually adjustable AC vents placed on the rear center console in between the front two seats. The Rapid gets reading/cabin lights in the front and rear. The front passenger seat can be pushed forward from the rear using the ergo-lever on the front seat. The boot lid can be released by a remote control. Cup-holders are present in front and rear with flip frame. However there are no steering mounted audio controls or USB functionality even though the Vento has these features. Bounce-back system, tinted windows and windscreen do their bits in providing comfort to the passengers.
Interior Measurements
The rear seat has decent legroom and the rear passenger can extend it by simply adjusting the front seat from the rear seat by an ergo-lever. The hump in the center prevents a fifth passenger from sitting in comfortably at the rear seats. Head room at the rear is just about adequate for tall passenger. However, the boot space is 460 liters and is more than adequate. Despite its compact size, Skoda Rapid has enough headroom, legroom and shoulder room at the front and even for the rear passengers.
Skoda Rapid Engine Capacity & Performance
The turbocharged TDi unit is highly refined and the in-cabin insulation is really good. The gear shift is knavish and precise however, gear ratios are found to be slightly different to that of the Volkswagen Vento’s. Power delivery on the Diesel Skoda Rapid is quicker and has a linear spirit to it. The overall driving experience will be composed and the Rapid feels calm and relaxed while turning at sharp bends. At 1600 rpm, the diesel guise takes ultimate pick-up with 3 passengers and has enough punch right upto the 5000 rpm. This suggests that most of the power lies in the middle and more so in the high end of the rev meter. Not much downshifts are needed while driving the Skoda Rapid diesel. The diesel engine is the complete show-stopper and completely overshadows its petrol counterpart. An automatic version on the diesel variant also may come in future.
The 1.6 litre MPI petrol Skoda Rapid also has a good refinement level on it. Apart from the 5 speed manual gearbox, the 6 speed automatic gearbox is quite savvy and ratios nicely spaced out, you also have a manual tiptronic option on it just for those who want to be in command of the gear shifting.
Skoda Rapid Wheels
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Skoda Rapid Braking & Handling
The Suspension setup on the Rapid is also a bit different as compared to the Vento. Front MacPherson strut suspension with stabilizer bar and rear semi-independent type trailing arm shocker suspensions are used in Skoda Rapid. The suspension soaks up most of the seiches on the road with only the major jerks being felt inside the cabin. Decent ground clearance keeps most of the humps at bay with the chassis only scraping over-the-board speed-breakers. Skoda cars are known for built quality and handling and the Rapid is a childsplay. In this case, as already mentioned, the Rapid is technically a Vento in Skoda guise as both share the same underpinnings, engine and gearbox.
The power steering has shed some weight compared to Vento, making it more practical for city chores. Both its length and height can be easily adjusted. Skoda Rapid manages to take high speed turns with reassuring confidence and does fairly well on the twisting roads. The new sedan comes powered with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) along with Electronic BrakeForce Distribution system and dual rate brake assist.
Skoda Rapid Handling & Safety
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Skoda Rapid Stereo & Accessories
A 12 V power socket in centre console increases the usability and practicality of Rapid. The Rapid has a lot of storage bins spread across the cabin area, door pads get bottle holders on the front and the rear. Front and rear cup-holders with flip frame lend space for keeping liquid dishes. The rear parcel shelf is given but it is quite high owing to which one can’t turn around to see during reversing. There are folding roof handles and a coat hook is affixed on rear roof handles and B-Pillars. Vanity mirror in front left sun visor and retaining strip on driver sun visor is present. Storage compartment in centre console and rear armrest is also given. Lights-on acoustic signal and storage pockets on backrest of front seats in Skoda Rapid Elegance are further accessories in Skoda Rapid.
Skoda Rapid Pros & Cons
Skoda Rapid Cons :Skoda Rapid Pros :
Sturdy built, top class in-cabin material and exteriors, refined engines, availability of diesel version, competitive price.
Sturdy built, top class in-cabin material and exteriors, refined engines, availability of diesel version, competitive price.
Extreme similarity to Volkswagen Vento, lack of innovation in design.
Skoda Rapid got impressive specifications with completely new exterior and there is a greater emphasis laid on energy efficiency and comfort.This car will surely lead the Octavia legacy.
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Rapid does not have ORVM's with power fold feature.
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