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.

UK COTY - BEST ESTATE - The All-New Passat walks this one as being the best out there.

The new Volkswagen Passat Estate, which went on sale in the UK in January, has been named Estate Car of the Year in the UK Car of the Year Awards 2015. Voted for by a panel of 27 professional motoring journalists the UK Car of the Year Awards recognise the best new cars on the market for UK customers, which are test driven and judged on UK roads.

While assessing the Passat Estate, the judges were impressed by the car’s quality, prestige, space and value for money.  John Challen, Managing Director of UK Car of the Year Awards, summed up: ‘The ultimate estate just happens to also be a car that is comfortable, great to drive and a very pleasant place to be.’

Towcar expert and motoring journalist David Motton added: ‘With sharp new styling and a huge 650-litre boot, you can't buy a better estate than the Passat for sensible money.  It's spacious, economical and rivals the prestige German brands for interior quality.’

The new Passat Estate is available with a choice of four diesel engines, ranging in power output from 120 to 240 PS.  A plug-in hybrid GTE version with a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine and electric motor will follow later in 2015.  A frugal BlueMotion with a 1.6-litre engine returning 78 mpg and just 95 g/km of CO₂ will join the range in June 2015, while an Alltrack version of the Estate will make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week before sales start in July.

Five trims are currently offers: S, SE, SE Business, GT and R-Line. All offer a high level of standard features with highlights including Post-Collision Braking System and mis-fuelling prevention; Front Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Crash system, Driver Profile Selection, Ergo Comfort seats and front and rear parking sensors on SE and above; and Discover Navigation on the SE Business which is aimed at fleet drivers.  

Heated Alcantara seats, three-zone climate control and 18-inch wheels are standard on GT, while the range-topping R-Line adds a host of bespoke design features.  Innovations on the Passat range include a world-first Trailer Assist system, which provides assistance when reversing a vehicle with a trailer attached.

Prices for the award-winning all-new Volkswagen Passat Estate start at £23,745 RRP OTR; a saloon version of the Passat is also available, costing from £22,215.