Pune:
Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL), has announced its first-ever student car project in India. Selected students from the Group Academy’s Dual Vocational Training in Mechatronics program have created a unique cabriolet version of the Škoda Rapid sedan. This project offers students hands-on experience in the automotive industry, allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.
The mechatronics students undertook a unique car project and converted a Škoda Rapid into a cabriolet. Converting a standard, hard-top car into roofless beauty was not an easy job, but the students were determined and ensured to complete the project on time and with an immaculate finish. Among the various customizations, the one that really draws attention is the retractable Škoda badge on the bonnet. The iconic ‘winged arrow’ hood ornament elevates elegantly from the bonnet and retracts back in at a touch of a button. They also added sleek LED lip lighting to the front bonnet to enhance the sporty appearance. In addition, the project car also gets an illuminated ‘Skoda’ inscription on the bootlid to give it a distinct appearance. There are several other sporty bits like the fully-loaded black accessories package with a yellow catch radium flow character line and yellow-painted brake calipers.
To give the cabin a more premium feel the students upgraded the standard radio to a more modern, tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system. But more importantly, they had to integrate the seatbelt into the front seat since the cabriolet doesn’t have a B-pillar where the belts are originally mounted. The seats themselves are beautifully crafted in top-quality scarlet-red leather. And to ensure an exhilarating experience, the factory-fitted exhaust was replaced by a sporty exhaust system that can induce goosebumps at a blip of the throttle.
SAVWIPL Academy is taking steps to regularize the Student Car Program and include it as a project in the students’ syllabus. The program will involve one cycle of projects every year, and the student selection criteria will be improved to make it more competitive. Through this initiative, the Academy aims to create a centralized forum/platform for the plant where students can showcase and implement innovative and futuristic ideas. The program will provide students with a unique opportunity to develop their skills and contribute to the Academy’s growth while gaining practical experience in the field.
