Škoda Afriq: student dream car
Students at the Škoda Academy have presented their eighth student dream car: the Škoda Afriq.
The eighth “student dream car” is a head-turning rally version of an urban SUV, the Škoda Kamiq. This is the first time the Škoda Kamiq has been chosen for modification by the students. “When building their car, the students collaborate with experts from all areas of the company. Under the guidance of their teachers, they transform a Škoda production model into a concept car with many innovative ideas. During this project they learn a number of techniques that will later form part of their work. As it happens, the Afriq was the most collaborative of all the student specials to date, bringing together experts from Škoda Motorsport, the development department, Škoda Design and production. For some of these professionals, it was the first time they’d worked on a student,” says teacher Ivo Vollman, who leads the project.
Rally-inspired
It took four months to build the car, with the students spending about two thousand hours on the project. One of the reasons for the heavy workload was the extensive modifications to the bodywork of the basic Škoda Kamiq: the students welded the urban SUV’s rear doors into the body, and the mudguards, wheel arches and bumpers of the now two-door Afriq were significantly enlarged. The suspension is stronger and the car’s ground clearance is much higher. Adding the all-wheel drive system from the Škoda Octavia 4×4 also took up a lot of time.
Higher, lighter, powerful
The Afriq is 4,362 millimetres long, 1,793 millimetres wide and 1,410 millimetres high. The wheelbase is 2,649 millimetres and the ground clearance is 180 millimetres. Changes to the chassis were necessitated by changes to the powertrain: this, including the engine and transmission, is taken wholesale from the Škoda Octavia 4×4. The four-cylinder 2.0 TSI engine has an output of 140 kW (190 hp) and transmits maximum torque of 320 Nm to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG gearbox. The exhaust system has also been adapted to the new engine and revised chassis.
DESIGN
2-seat SUV Dakar special based on the Škoda Kamiq
COLOUR
White with car vinyls in style of Fabia R2 EVO designed, in close cooperation with Škoda Design, by apprentices
INTERIOR
Similar to Fabia R2 EVO
ENGINE
2.0 TSI/ 140 kW
GEARBOX
DSG 7-speed
OUTPUT
140 kW
EXHAUST SYSTEM
Modification of exhaust system
WHEELS
15″
WEIGHT
Slightly less than the mass-produced Škoda Kamiq
TOP SPEED
229 km/h
SOUND SYSTEM
Navigation Garmin for Offroad
SPECIAL LIGHTING
Additional lights in the front hood, six-point seat belts, racing seats, steering wheel and accessories, all from the Fabia R2 EVO. Complete 4×4 drive from Octavia. Watergen – device which makes water from air.
The Škoda Apprentice Car was designed and produced by apprentices from Škoda Auto Secondary Vocational School. It demonstrates the creativity and skills of 23 apprentices from 7 professions.
Handmade alterations by the apprentices:
- Change of bodywork – extension of the wheel arches, reducing the number of doors to just too, creating hole for roof ventilation flap
- Widened bumpers, welded up protective frames
- Integrated spoiler from Fabia R2 EVO in the fifth door
- Changes to exhaust system