Skoda FUNstar: Look What Trainees At Skoda Academy Has Done

by Dhiyanesh Ravichandran · May 14, 2015

Skoda has previewed a pick-up truck concept named ‘FUNstar’
based on the new Fabia hatch. It has been designed by a team of 23 apprentices
aged 17-18 from the ŠKODA AUTO Vocational School in Mlada Boleslav, Czech
Republic. The concept was unveiled yesterday at the GTI Meeting in Wörthersee,
Austria. Skoda also presented the high-tech racer – Fabia R5 Combi – as an estate show car at the Wörthersee show.

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The concept truck holds a frameless body with added
reinforcements on the side panels. The B-pillar is widened to augment its
conversion from hatch to a pick-up truck. The rear flat-bed of the pick-up is
constituted by stainless steel metal sheet. Students have used the Skoda’s
1.2-liter TSI petrol engine producing 121 bhp with a 7-speed DSG on the concept
car.

Skoda FUNstar has one of the smallest pick-up bed

They initially wanted to use the 1.8-liter TSI petrol engine
for the FUNstar, but is was considered a bit large for a car of this kind. The
FUNstar boasts themed interiors with a sporty steering wheel and seats, an
upmarket 1400W audio system with a 200W subwoofer, a touchscreen infotainment
with smartphone connectivity, and chunky 18-inch wheels lifted from the new
Octavia RS. While the Fabia R5 Combi features an ultramodern 1.6-liter turbo engine, in addition to an all-wheel-drive system and a sequential five-speed transmission.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koT0iBai1h8&w=400&h=266]

Watch this short promo ad of the Skoda FUNstar Concept

The FUNstar concept features a body colour theme of white, grey,
and green – reminiscent of the colours of the brand. Even the LED DRLs are
green in colour. The student team have been tinkering the car since November
last year, since the selection of a pick-up truck proposal from a total of 84
design proposals. The FUN pickup project has been carried out in close
cooperation with the Skoda Design department and Skoda Production.

Skoda conducted a small competition for children at a local
primary school to find a suitable name for the project. The design team
consists of 2 young women and 21 young men from the academy, which at present
runs 13 training courses 880 students on roll. The training is free, and
students are paid for their work during their apprenticeship. After
successfully completing the training, Skoda offers all graduates a permanent
job.

Skoda Citijet Concept built by apprentices was shown last year.

This is the second time that the academy has given an
opportunity for the apprentices. They came up with Skoda Citijet concept last
year. Meanwhile, Skoda India is planning to re-launch the new Fabia hatch in
the domestic market. A new crossover based on the Fabia hatch has also been
scooped recently.