2020 Skoda Slavia Concept

Comprehensive modifications to the body

To transform the Scala hatch into the open-top Slavia, following the example of the Škoda 1100 OHC, the trainees performed numerous modifications to the car’s body, redesigning many areas and adapting existing solutions. They reinforced the underbody, removed the roof and welded the rear doors in place, thereby turning a compact hatchback model with plenty of space for five people into an uncompromising two-door two-seater. To redirect the airflow over the vehicle, they developed a special cover with hallmark twin speedster humps behind the seats, which blends into an equally new boot lid featuring an integrated rear spoiler. The students paid special attention to clean transitions on the A-pillars and doors. 20-inch alloy wheels from the Škoda Kodiaq vRS make for an especially sporty appearance. The brake system and wheel hubs come from the Octavia vRS. The redesigned underfloor area houses a modified exhaust system.

Special pearlescent paint finish in White Crystal Blue

The particular lustre of this concept car comes courtesy of the White Crystal Blue exterior colour contrasting with the black detailing on the front and rear aprons and side sills. The white high-tech paint finish consists of three layers resulting in a bluish pearlescent effect, which is emphasised by means of neon blue accents along the signature Škoda body lines as well as on the distinctive Škoda grille and the brand logo on the bonnet. Programmable LEDs, positioned below the side sills carried over from the Scala Monte Carlo and behind the alloy wheels, provide user-configurable dynamic exterior ambient lighting in blue, red and white – the three colours of the Czech flag. The illuminated Škoda wordmark also doubles as indicator, brake light and reversing light. A “DRIVE 125 YEARS” badge on the front doors recalls the company’s founding in its anniversary year.

Sporty interior with white highlights

Sporty highlights in the interior are provided by four-point seat belts and special SPARCO racing seats, whose cushions and backrests have a black perforated leather finish. The seats’ side bolsters feature black carbon leather with white contrast stitching. These distinctive seams also add special appeal to numerous other interior elements finished in black leather, such as the centre armrest, shift lever gaiter, handbrake lever gaiter or the rear cover plates. The same combination is found in the lower two-thirds of the steering wheel rim, while the upper third is finished in white leather, as is the shift lever knob. Finally, a particularly eye-catching detail is the black leather parcel shelf featuring two embroidered lions that house two sunken bass speakers. The subwoofer has an output of 2,250 watts, with the remaining speakers adding another 320 watts. The Slavia’s boot accommodates two Škoda electric scooters. The folding e-scooters are a perfect, eco-friendly solution for what is known as a journey’s “last mile”.

“The Škoda Slavia radiates a special dynamism even when parked. The new, humped rear cover, new boot lid and large wheels make for a very sporty appearance, which is further enhanced by the racing seats and four-point seat belts in the interior. The students have managed to imbue their vehicle with its own individual character while mastering the engineering challenges involved in turning a closed-body vehicle into an open-top spider,” says Zdenk Stanke, team leader at the Škoda Academy.

Martin Slabihoudek, the head of the Škoda vocational school, adds, “Participating in the Student Car project is considered a great honour among the trainees at the Škoda vocational school. You’re given an opportunity to have a hands-on experience of what it’s like to design, develop and build a car from scratch, from the initial blank page to the finished vehicle. Being supported by experts from various departments is great, and they also shared some tricks of their trades with us. This is potentially invaluable for our subsequent careers. What I like most about the Slavia is the way in which playing with colours and light can result in amazing effects.”

Using the anniversary year to commemorate founding fathers Laurin and Klement

2020 marks the 125th anniversary of Škoda, and the students’ exciting spider concept car pays tribute to the company’s early days. By using the name Slavia, the trainees are commemorating the first business venture of founding fathers Václav Laurin and Václav Klement, who started out in 1895 by repairing bicycles in Mladá Boleslav. Soon the duo began designing their own bikes, successfully marketing them under the brand name Slavia from 1896 onwards. Reviving this historic name perfectly complements the students’ idea of taking the cutting-edge Scala on a journey through time, back to an era when the first automobiles were open-top vehicles. A classic spider is all about wild and free motoring. With its commitment to open-top enjoyment, the Škoda Slavia departs from convention and embodies a spirited, youthful and carefree attitude.

“Opting for the Slavia name shows that our trainees had their eyes not only on their own Student Car project, but also kept the entire company and its history in mind. By doing so, they’ve added a valuable and unique aspect to the Škoda anniversary year, and, as a result, become themselves part of our continuing success story,” says Jaromir Bátora, Development coordinator for the Škoda vocational school. Ludvík Arazím, the electrician from the Azubi Car team, explains, “As this year marks Škoda’s 125th anniversary, we all agreed pretty quickly that we wanted to use our Student Car to pay tribute to the company’s origins and the early days of motoring. As an uncompromising spider, the Slavia follows in the footsteps of the open-top cars that defined the pioneering days of the automobile. Using the first brand name chosen by Václav Laurin and Václav Klement perfectly complements this homage.”

Traditional Student Cars underscore the quality of training at the Škoda Academy

Founded in 1927, the Škoda vocational school in Mladá Boleslav is known for its excellent standard of training. Since then, more than 23,000 students have graduated from the school. The current, 900-strong student body, is being taught in 13 different technical courses. Each successful graduate of the school is offered employment at Škoda AUTO. In 2013, the vocational school became part of the Škoda Academy and established a new tradition in the form of the Student Car project. This annual project enables young talent to design an original vehicle and then build it themselves. The first such vehicle was the CITIJET in 2014, a two-seater version of the Škoda Citigo.

For the trainees, participating in the Student Car project represents a unique opportunity to apply and improve the skills they have learned in a practical context. The current student team were once again eager to interact with experts from all Škoda departments. They received valuable tips in the Development department, and during a visit at Škoda Design, department head Oliver Stefani and his team personally assisted the students with the creation of their first design sketches for the Škoda Slavia. The Production department provided recommendations for suitable materials and technologies such as 3D printing.

“The Student Car project provides our trainees with an intensive behind-the-scenes look at all development and production departments at Škoda. Learning from Škoda experts in various areas is a very enriching experience for our students. Sadly, this year’s coronavirus pandemic and the resulting social-distancing measures and plant closures have hampered this exchange to an extent. It’s also had an impact on how the trainees could work together during the final construction phase of their vehicle. Nonetheless, their boundless enthusiasm, exemplary discipline and adherence to comprehensive hygiene and safety standards helped our students to come up with an impressive vehicle,” says Ivo Vollman, instructor at the Škoda Academy.

First precursors dating back to the 1970s

The students’ creativity and craftsmanship are increasing almost every year. The CITIJET was followed 12 months later by the FUNSTAR pick-up based on the Škoda Fabia, and then came the ATERO, a coupé take on the Škoda Rapid Spaceback. 2017 saw the students return to the Škoda Citigo, this time with the all-electric ELEMENT. The fifth Student Car, presented in 2018, was the SUNROQ convertible based on the Škoda Karoq, and in 2019 students transformed a Škoda Kodiaq into the impressive MOUNTIAQ pick-up. Early versions of the Student Car project date all the way back to the 1970s. Following the construction of several small tractors and, later on, a Škoda 120 pick-up, 1975 saw trainees at the Škoda vocational school produce four exemplars of the Škoda BUGGY Type 736 by hand. One of these prototypes was carefully restored in 2017, again by trainees from the Škoda , and is now on display at the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav.

Specifications

• Vehicle type: Spider, without roof
• Base model: Škoda SCALA
• Doors/seats: 2/2
• Colour: White Crystal Blue with details in Black Magic, Special phosphorescent pigment for particularly vibrant Škoda lines and logo
• Length: 4,362 mm
• Width: 1,793 mm
• Height: 1,410 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,649 mm
• Ground clearance: 180 mm
• Weight: 1,210 kg
• Powertrain: 1.5 TSI with 110 kW (150 PS), 7-speed DSG, front-wheel drive, Modified exhaust system
• Wheels: 20-inch Xtreme alloy wheels (from Škoda Kodiaq vRS), 235/30 ZR20 (Continental SportContact 6)
• Interior: Black leather upholstery (perforated, smooth, carbon leather) with white decorative seams, Sports seats with four-point safety harnesses

2020 Skoda Slavia Concept Rear View 3/4

Special features

• • Modified front and rear aprons
  • Integrated spoiler on the boot lid
  • MONTE CARLO door sills
  • Individually controlled LEDs
  • Illuminated Škoda lettering with brake and reversing light function
  • 320-watt speaker system with additional 2,250-watt subwoofer

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