Skoda has a tradition to let the students of its automotive design school conceptualize and build prototype vehicles with assistance from experienced engineers. The Afriq is their eighth project so far. Judging by the sketches, it is a rally car envisioned with a massive rear wing, widened wheel arches and generous amounts of ground clearance. The Skoda Academy does not reveal its purpose, but rally racing is at the top of our guesses.
The vehicle is 4,362 mm long, 1,790 mm
wide and has 2,649 mm of wheelbase, which makes it slightly shorter than the
Karoq with slightly more wheelbase. The students have chosen the Kamiq platform
to build it upon.
Why Afriq? You may think it could have
something to do with the classical Dakar Rally route, but the students
themselves explain that Skoda is now responsible for supplying the world’s
hottest continent with transports. Apparently, it is a part of Volkwagen
Group’s initiative to expand its presence in northern Africa. Arwa Oeljeklaus,
the leader of the North Africa office of Skoda, said the company would continue
to apply its experience in this region.
A team of 25 students led by Skoda
Motorsport engineers will bring the Afriq into reality, marking the first time
in seven years the automaker works on a motorsports-oriented model.
