The ŠKODA AFRIQ is off to a flying start. The name the 25 apprentices at the ŠKODA Vocational School chose for the eighth ŠKODA student car highlights two important topics: The rally version of the ŠKODA KAMIQ city SUV, which is being developed in collaboration with ŠKODA Motorsport, commemorates the legendary Dakar Rally in Africa. The name ŠKODA AFRIQ is also a perfect choice for another reason; since the beginning of this year, ŠKODA AUTO has been responsible for all the Volkswagen Group’s activities in North Africa.
This year, for the first time in the history of the traditional project, the vocational students are working alongside ŠKODA Motorsport to create the eighth ŠKODA student car, thereby benefiting from 120 years of motorsport experience. The rally version of the ŠKODA KAMIQ city SUV, which serves as the basis for the student car for the first time, is taking on the look of the vehicles that compete in the legendary Dakar Rally. The roots of the traditional long-distance rally lie in the deserts of North and West Africa.
From the very first pencil stroke, the vocational students are developing the spectacularly designed and handmade one-off themselves. The AFRIQ is 4,362 millimetres long and has a wheelbase of 2,649 millimetres. The apprentices are incorporating many new, unusual ideas with the support of teachers at the ŠKODA Vocational School, engineers and experienced employees from the Technical Development, Design and Production areas, as well as ŠKODA Motorsport for the first time.
“It’s great to see how much enthusiasm and creativity our apprentices bring to this project. In collaboration with the specialist teachers, who are totally dedicated to our students and work diligently with them on the details, the project participants come up with ideas every year that surprise even the experts. The apprentices always manage to give their very own dream car a unique character.”
Zdeněk Stanke, team leader from the ŠKODA Academy
