Skoda Auto Volkswagen India announces its first student car project; showcases Rapid cabriolet

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) has launched its first Student Car Project in India. As a part of this project, a group of students from its Dual Vocational Training in Mechatronics programme have built a convertible Skoda Rapid. The entity says that this project has offered students a hands-on experience in the automotive industry. Notably, SAVWIPL oversees five Volkswagen Group brands in India, namely Volkswagen, Skoda, Lamborghini, Audi, and Porsche.

Skoda Rapid covertible: Design

The students of mechatronics worked on a unique car project that involved transforming a hard-top Skoda Rapid saloon into a convertible model. On the top of making it a cabriolet, the students have also given the Rapid cabriolet several personalisation touches. To begin with, the car gets a retractable Skoda 'winged arrow' badge on the bonnet. The logo appears and retracts back from the bonnet at a touch of a button. In addition, the Rapid cabriolet comes with an LED light strip at the front and an illuminated 'Skoda' lettering on the boot lid. The students have also overhauled it cosmetically by giving it an all-black accessories package with a yellow character line and yellow brake callipers. Not to mention, the Rapid cabriolet features an aftermarket exhaust system.

Skoda Rapid convertible: Interior

On the inside, the students of mechatronics have integrated the front-row seatbelts into the front seats since it is now a cabriolet with no B-pillars. They have also upgraded the cabin with a new tablet-like touchscreen infotainment system. The seats wear leather upholstery in Scarlet-Red.

SAVWIPL Student Car Project

While this is the first-ever Student Car Project by Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, the Skoda Academy's Azubi Student Car Project has entered the ninth iteration. SAVWIPL Academy plans to include the Students Car Programme as a project in the students' syllabus, with one cycle of projects every year. It intends to create a platform where students can showcase and implement innovative and futuristic ideas. SAVWIPL Academy's Dual Vocational Training in Mechatronics is a full-time 3.5-year course and has upskilled 10th-grade school students since 2011.

Commenting on the occasion, Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, SAVWIPL, said, "We are excited to introduce the Student Car project to India, providing vocational school pupils with a unique opportunity to design and create their dream car by rebuilding one of the cars from the Skoda portfolio while adding innovative ideas. This initiative reflects our commitment to nurturing talent and promoting innovation in the Indian automotive industry. Such initiatives also create an opportunity for the realisation of futuristic ideas by building prototypes with out-of-box thinking without the fear of failure. We are confident that this project will not only give students practical experience but also equip them with new skills and insights into various departments at Skoda Auto Volkswagen India."

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