The Sun Is Rising

This year’s team numbered some 23 students studying a range of subjects at ŠKODA’s own trade school in Mladá Boleslav. In their work on this new study, they took on the roles of engineers, interior and exterior designers, mechanics, and even marketers. Professionals were at hand every step of the way to consult the individual stages with them and judge whether their plans and ideas were feasible.

“The initial phase was an opportunity to sit down with ŠKODA’s professionals. While it wasn’t exactly straightforward, we found it very constructive. And what was the most important lesson we learnt? Definitely the art of reasoning, which is sure to come in very handy in the future,” said the students as they discussed their car.

Compared to other years, the naming process for the new student car has been rather unorthodox because, besides thinking up names themselves, the students held a contest for followers of the ŠKODA Facebook page. Out of the barrage of suggestions, the students chose SUNROQ because it best reflects the car’s concept – a convertible bathed in sunshine that makes for the perfect companion on summer holidays. The sports car’s dynamic, stylish design boldly states that the SUNROQ has not been created with the weekly shop in mind. It’s for zipping along in fun and sun. And it can handle so much more than the latest motorways. Because it is an SUV at heart, this model is even able to take on rougher terrain. The SUNROQ’s length, width, and wheelbase are the same as the KAROQ’s, and it has kept the powerful four-cylinder 1.5 TSI engine. Where it does diverge, of course, is in the completely revamped body. After getting rid of the roof, the young designers set about reconstructing the doors and redesigning the A and B pillars. The back of the car, completely at their mercy, was completely transformed, so the ŠKODA SUNROQ can pride itself on a new fifth door.

Not even the tiniest detail slipped the team’s attention. The team got the SUNROQ’s light design down to a tee, with backlit handles and direction indicators featuring specific details. And if by any chance you forget what you’re driving, take a look down at the road surface – in the dark, the ŠKODA logo is projected on to the ground by both the front and rear bumpers. The SUNROQ does not only play the design card. Thanks to the original SUV engine, you can get to 100 kph within 8,6 seconds. How about the maximum speed? You can get up to 195 kph. Every year it seems that the upcoming team does not stand a chance of creating a concept that could beat the previous one. Nonetheless, this year’s Azubi Car brought another model that proved this notion completely wrong. 

Every year’s new team is faced with the near-impossible challenge of creating a concept that would overshadow the last one. This year’s Azubi Car project, though, has delivered another model kicking established conventions into touch. “We were heavily inspired by one of the previous models, the ŠKODA ATERO, which was unveiled by our predecessors in 2016. Our main ambition has been to build a sports car that will mesmerise the younger generation at first sight. And we think we achieved that very well,” the students agree.

ŠKODA CITIJET, 2014

The first project and the first open ŠKODA competition after many decades. The “Little Bruiser” as it was called, had to win its place in the sun and create the Azubi Car project’s good name in ŠKODA. And that’s what it did.

The students decided to build a stylish convertible based on the base model CITIGO. Inside, two seats; outside two colors - blue and white. Blue alloy sports wheels were also painted in blue and the car featured a hand-manufactured rear spoiler and a two piece exhaust. This sporty treasure ran its 1.0 MPI gas engine at 55 kW of horsepower.

ŠKODA FUNSTAR, 2015

The second year is perhaps a difficult position to be in, because the year was full of expectations that the second year’s result would outperform the first’s. Students did the best they could however, when they created an entirely new car. Courageous, original and playfull, the FUNSTAR took breathes away.

A courageous design study, a fierce and unconventional sports car. Experts and journalists were profuse with their praises, and unanimously proclaimed that coach builder pickup really did suit the FABIA. The icing on the cake was the sound system which performed famously at 1,400 watts. The ŠKODA FUNSTAR became a hit on social media sites.

ŠKODA ATERO, 2016

The third apprentice vehicle in line could not afford any hesitation - the apprentices spent an unbelievable 1,300 hours on the ATERO model. The over-4 meter coupe was based on the RAPID SPACEBACK model and the rebuilding was slightly larger than the previous two vehicles.

Since the roof of the car sloped earlier than the original model, it was necessary to remake both the B and C pillars, or alternatively, the size of the doors. But the result was worth it. The ATERO is fantastic, very emotional coupe which radiates every passion for cars that is in the ŠKODA brand. It must be said that the concept of dreams wasn’t even lost on the market either.

ŠKODA ELEMENT, 2017

The ŠKODA ELEMENT is based on the smallest model offered by ŠKODA, the CITIGO, and is powered by an electric motor.