Skoda Slavia: student-built Scala Spider named

Students from Skoda’s Vocational Academy are developing an open-top Spider version of the Skoda Scala, which has been named the Slavia in recognition of the Czech brand's origins.

Skoda founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement first began working together 125 years ago, repairing and then selling bicycles under the Slavia name. 

The roofless version of the family car will be revealed later this month and will be the seventh concept car produced by students on the Czech firm’s training scheme. Previous machines have included a Skoda Kodiaq-based pick-up and a convertible Skoda Karoq.

First drive: Skoda Mountiaq student pick-up concept

The Scala Spider is being developed by a team of 20 apprentices currently training at Skoda’s Mlada Boleslav headquarters, with guidance from design chief Oliver Stefani. Skoda engineers are giving advice to the team while the machine is constructed.

The Scala was launched in late 2018 and this is the first time the hatch has been used as the basis for a student car project. The students are given a standard version of the car and the design freedom to adapt it as they wish. Having decided on an open-top bodystyle, design work has focused on making the car’s lines more prominent to give it added ‘visual dynamics’.

The finished Scala Spider is scheduled to be revealed in June and there is no production intent for the car.

The first student car concept was the Citijet, a two-seat Citigo. It was followed by the Funstar (a Fabia-based pick-up), the Atero (Rapid-Spaceback-based coupé), the Citigo-based electric Element, the Sunroq (a Karoq convertible) and last year's Mountiaq.

READ MORE

First drive: Skoda Mountiaq student pick-up concept

Skoda Scala: the road test

Skoda Superb 2020 long-term review