Skoda Apprentices produce another stunning one off for the Worthersee GTi Meeting.

• 23 ŠKODA trainees build pickup based on the ŠKODA Fabia
• Vehicle project in close cooperation with the ŠKODA Design department
  and ŠKODA Production
• Premiere at the 34th GTI Meeting at Wörthersee in mid-May

The new dream car of 23 trainees from the ŠKODA AUTO Vocational School: the ŠKODA FUNstar pickup. The fun vehicle concept, based on the new ŠKODA Fabia, is the result of ŠKODA’s ‘trainee car’ project, which was run for the first time last year. 

The ŠKODA FUNstar will be making its public debut at the 34th GTI Meeting at Wörthersee from 13 to 16 May 2015.

The two young women and 21 young men have been tinkering on their own vehicle project since November 2014.  Developing ideas and discussing possible solutions, drawing, designing and they have built a very special, unique car. Inventiveness and flexibility are just as important as pragmatism and implementation skills.

The trainees have been supported in their work by ŠKODA chief designer Jozef Kabaň and ŠKODA AUTO Production Director Michael Oeljeklaus. The new ‘Trainee Car’ is almost ready; the premiere takes place at the legendary GTI Meeting at Wörthersee in Austria in mid-May.

This is the second year in a row that the Czech manufacturer has given selected trainees the opportunity to create their dream car. The company’s goal with this programme is to promote and strengthen the vocational students’ creativity and expertise. 

“After the excellent results of the ŠKODA Trainee Car premiere last year, it was clear that we would continue the project,” said ŠKODA HR Director Bohdan Wojnar. 

“We are once again delighted with our students’ creative ideas and their goal-oriented implementation. We would like to thank everyone who has supported the project, especially the teachers at the ŠKODA AUTO Vocational School. The ŠKODA FUNstar is a great concept car that is going to surprise and inspire visitors at the GTI Meeting.”

The ŠKODA FUNstar is a funky pickup based on the new ŠKODA Fabia – cheeky, fresh and surprising. This is a bright, sharp pickup with a real fun factor, not only in name. The ŠKODA FUNstar stands out with its metallic colours steel-grey and moon-white. 

The sills, grille surround and the rear spoiler form a striking contrast in reflex-green. One special feature is the LED lights mounted below the sidebars. The dual-lens headlights also feature LED technology, with green LED light strips serving as daytime running lights. LEDs are also used in the rear lights.

“Through this project, our apprentices have really shown what they are capable of,” said ŠKODA Production Board member Michael Oeljeklaus whose department has taken the junior employees under their wing in production technology. “The project has been great fun. The students have really got on board with the task, showing great zeal and developing their expertise.”

The ŠKODA FUNstar drives up on 18-inch ‘Gemini’ alloys from the Octavia RS. The engine is a 1.2 TSI petrol with 90 kW. The transmission features a modern seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. 

The sporty look continues in the interior. Individual elements are also finished in steel-grey and moon-white. It goes without saying that the students used one of the best sports steering wheels ŠKODA has to offer, and the 1400-Watt sound system offers a fantastic music experience. 

The ‘Trainee Car’ project once again demonstrates the high quality of ŠKODA’s vocational training, and the importance of combining theoretical education with practical experience. The ŠKODA Vocational School offers young adults three- or four-year training programmes in technical subjects. 

The students graduate with an apprenticeship diploma or NVQ level 3 respectively. There are currently 13 training courses, on which 880 full-time trainees are enrolled. Some 12.5 per cent of these apprentices are young women. In addition, 65 current employees are supplementing their qualifications at a post-graduate level. 

The ŠKODA Vocational School in Mladá Boleslav was established in 1927. Since then, almost 22,000 students have completed their training there.

Training young people is a key part of the Czech car manufacturer’s social responsibility. The training is free; moreover, students are paid for their work during their apprentices. After successfully completing the training, ŠKODA offers all graduates a permanent job.

Exclusive new GTS trim added to Volkswagen's Scirocco model.

Exclusive GTS trim with new 18-inch alloy wheels

Scirocco GTS has a new generation of infotainment equipment on board as standard

Ten key facts about the Scirocco GTS:

• The new Scirocco GTS makes its debut as a separate and especially sporty GT version
• 220 PS Scirocco GTS has a top speed of 246 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds
• Individualised exterior with new 18-inch alloy wheels and optional GTS décor (décor standard in China)
• Red brake callipers as an identifying feature
• Exclusive GTS interior with black trim features, red stitching and the legendary golf ball gear knob
• Included as standard: the "Composition Colour", from the latest generation of infotainment systems
• Modular infotainment matrix (MIB II) available for all Scirocco models from the end of May
• The Scirocco GTS can also be ordered with an extremely quick-shifting 6-speed DSG gearbox as an option
• The spirit of the first Scirocco GTS (which made its debut in 1982) was carried forward into the year 2015 in the new GTS
• With over a million sold, the Scirocco is one of the most successful sports cars in the world

The Scirocco is a pure bred European sports coupe which has been reinvented through the years to give it a timeless appeal.  Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 41 years ago, it became an icon of compact German coupés. 

The car caught the spirit of the age: over a million units of the Scirocco have been produced since then.

Last summer a comprehensively refined generation of the sports car was launched, featuring, among other things, a completely new range of engines. Building on this, Volkswagen unveils the new Scirocco GTS – a sports car with 162 kW / 220 PS – in a world premiere at Auto Shanghai. Its engine is one of the most popular in the Scirocco range because it is sharing its design genes with the engine of the Golf GTI. 

A turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine that is recognised as being one of the most agile four-cylinder engines in the world.  It catapults the Scirocco GTS – either with a manual gearbox or with the 6-speed DSG – to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds. Top speed: 246 km/h (DSG: 244 km/h). 

The average fuel consumption shows just how efficient the engine of the Scirocco is: just 6.1 l/100 km with a manual gearbox and similarly economical at 6.4 l/100 km with a DSG gearbox.

A legendary predecessor

The first GTS was launched in 1982.  There has been a Scirocco GTS before, in 1982, and that coupé was also related to the Golf GTI of its time, both technically and visually. 

The Scirocco was recognisable by a strikingly designed GTS stripe (which ran all round the silhouette of the car just above the sill), its distinctive sport seats and a gear knob in golf ball design.  

The GTI had the same sport seats (with different upholstery) and the golf ball gear knob. Today, the situation is similar. The new Scirocco GTS will be launched in Europe at the end of May, with China following in the summer. This marks the comeback of an icon, a straight-forward, mighty fast and exclusively-equipped sports car.

GTS exterior

New 18-inch wheels. The Scirocco  GTS will be equipped as standard with new 18-inch “Norwich” alloy wheels; the popular 19- inch “Lugano” alloy wheels will be available as an option. 

The red brake callipers of the GTS can be seen through the spokes of both of these wheel options. In addition, the Scirocco GTS comes with the R-Line package "Exterieur" as standard, which includes distinctive R-style bumpers (at the front with integrated fog lamps and glossy black radiator and air inlet grilles), custom side sill extensions, a roof spoiler (also R-style) and a diffuser. 

The wing mirror caps are painted in stylish black and, just like its predecessor, the '82 Scirocco GTS, the new model can be ordered with a sporty GTS decal for the body as an option (standard in China). 

This option features two decorative red stripes that run centrally from the bonnet over the roof and the boot (if the car is painted in “Flash Red” the stripes are black). The new Scirocco is also enhanced by 3D GTS logos in the radiator grille and on the tailgate. The Scirocco GTS can be ordered in six colours: "Deep Black", "Indium Grey", "Urano Grey", "Pure White", "Oryx White" and, as already mentioned, "Flash Red".

GTS interior

Black and red. The interior of the Scirocco GTS is also customised, of course, and dominated by the sporty colours black and red. The customisation includes:

• Black headliner
• Decorative inlays in "Piano Black Lacquer " in the centre console and the applications on the dashboard
• GTS badges on the sill panel mouldings
• Customised sports steering wheel with red seams and the lower spoke finished in "Black Piano Lacquer" (with the GTS logo)
• Pedals in stainless steel
• Seat covers with centre panels made of a new material (with the GTS logo at the top of the backrest) and red decorative stitching
• GTS package also includes the legendary golf ball gear knob
• Chrome trim package (for the wing mirror and electric window switches)
• Air vents and inside door handles in "Black Piano Lacquer"
• Contrasting red seams for the safety belts, the handbrake lever, the gear lever gaiter, the central armrest and the floor mats

Modular infotainment matrix (MIB).  Also included as standard:  The "Composition Colour" infotainment system, available for the first time in the Scirocco. This marks the debut of the second generation of the modular infotainment matrix (MIB II) in this series of sports cars.

Tailor-made customisation.  As an option, the Scirocco GTS can also be ordered with black "Vienna" leather upholstery; here again the seats are customised with decorative red seams. Volkswagen also offers features such as the transparent panoramic tilt sunroof, bi- xenon headlights, a multifunction steering wheel and – as previously mentioned – the new MIB II radio navigation systems. In China the leather interior and the panoramic tilt sunroof come as standard.

Fuel consumption Scirocco GTS in l/100 km: 6.1 (combined); CO₂ emissions in g/km: 142 (combined); efficiency class: C (estimated values)

Technical data of theScirocco GTS

Body/wheels
Concept	2-door, 4-seat coupé
Length/width/height	4,256 mm/1,810 mm/1,406 mm
Wheelbase	2,578 mm
Wheels/tyres	8J x 18 / 235/40 R18
Luggage compartment capacity	312 - 1,006 l
Drive
Drive train concept	Front-wheel drive
Petrol engine	2.0 TSI (turbocharged, direct injection) 162 kW/220 PS/350 Nm
Gearbox	6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG
Performance / fuel economy data
V/max.	246 km/h (DSG: 244 km/h)
0-100 km/h	6.5 s
Fuel consumption (NEDC, combined)	6.1 l/100 km (DSG: 6.4 l/100 km)
	139 g/km (DSG: 148)
Driving range	916 km (DSG: 859 km)

Volkswagen's Golf GTi joins Automobile’s list of the 10 outstanding model year 2015 vehicles.

Lauded for its exceptional handling and power, the Golf GTI joins Automobile’s list of the 10 outstanding model year 2015 vehicles

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, commended for its exceptional handling and performance, was today named to Automobile’s “2015 All-Star” list. Automobile, a leading automotive lifestyle print and online brand, each year selects 10 exceptional vehicles to its prestigious list based on performance, features, and overall value. This is the seventh time that the Golf GTI has been named an Automobile “All-Star”.

“The 2015 Golf GTI has met great critical and sales success since its arrival in U.S. dealerships this past summer, and we are honored that it has earned a coveted spot on Automobile’s ‘2015 All-Star’ list,” said Michael Horn, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “This accolade reaffirms the Golf GTI as a vehicle that seamlessly intersects performance with efficiency and value.” 

“After seven generations, you expect a performance car like the GTI to be fabulous, and it most certainly is. Volkswagen has done a masterful job turning its seminal hot hatch into an outstanding all-around vehicle that more than handles its own at the track and out on the back roads,” said Mike Floyd, Editor-in-Chief,Automobile.” There is plenty of power for the application, torque steer is minimized, and the DSG®-equipped car we had shifted as you’d expect— flawlessly. All that made it an easy choice as a 2015 Automobile ‘All-Star.’”

All current model year vehicles that are on sale in the U.S. during Automobile’s fall testing are eligible for the annual “All-Star” award. Editorial staff and contributors cast private ballots for their favorite vehicles, including passenger cars, sports cars, sport-utilities, minivans and trucks. Winners are determined solely by staff preferences.

The 2015 Golf GTI is bigger, lighter, faster, and more fuel-efficient than the previous generation. It redefines the hatchback category with enough space for five adults and more trunk space than any mid-size sedan. It also features Volkswagen’s EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® engine, providing 210 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which is 10 hp and 51 lb-ft higher than in the previous generation. The optional Performance Package, available later in the model year, adds another 10 hp for a total of 220 hp, larger brakes, and an electronically-controlled torque-sensing limited-slip differential.

The Golf GTI provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems, and has been engineered to meet or exceed all current crash regulations. All Golf GTI models are available with the Driver Assistance Package, which adds a Forward Collision Warning system and front and rear Park Distance Control systems.

Standard equipment on the all-new Golf GTI also includes a new Driving Mode Selection feature, VW Car-Net® connected services, a touchscreen infotainment system, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, ambient and footwell lighting with LED reading lights, and LED foglights. Pricing for the all-new Golf GTI starts at $24,395.