This week, we're all about much improved automakers here at TotallyMotor – in the past, Kia and Hyundai have attracted their share of criticism but they're making some pretty tidy motors these days. And another automaker that has been the butt of jokes in the past but is now resurgent under new owners is Skoda.

The latest car to signify the rise and rise of Skoda is the new Rapid, a compact saloon with some nice coupe shaping about the body. It sits between the Fabia and the Octavia in the Skoda range and it will be making its debut at the Paris Motor Show before launching across Europe late this year.

It features the new Skoda brand logo up front, a chrome-framed grille with vertical slats, C-shaped tail lights and headlights grouped to form a cloverleaf ensemble. Could this mean it's a lucky charm for Skoda?

It is a reasonably tight 4.48m long and 1.7m wide with room for five people inside. There will be a choice of five petrol engines and two diesel engines. UK prices to come soon but Skoda is promising "affordable" for families.

By Georgia Lewis

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