A team of Skoda apprentices have revealed their dream car; a sleek coupe based on the existing Rapid Spaceback.
The Skoda Apprentice Car III – called Atero – has been designed and built at the company’s headquarters in Mlada Boleslav. The departments for technical development, design and production are supporting the project, for which the Skoda Academy is responsible.
The Atero gets a recognisable front end, with sporty red detailing for the grille surround and lower bumper. The bonnet has been hacked up, with several red vents giving a more aggressive look. The 15-spoke black alloy wheels have a red rim, which matches the sills, mirror caps and spoiler.
It’s from the B-pillar back where the biggest changes take place, however. Instead of the Rapid Spaceback’s conventional five-door body, the apprentices have lowered the roofline and removed the rear doors, extending the front doors to give an almost-shooting brake coupe-style tail. There’s a full-length glass roof, presumably giving a light, airy interior. An 1,800-watt stereo powers 14 speakers.
The red spoiler sits high on the rear window, above the badges and LED lights. At the rear, the Atero gets twin exhausts from the Octavia vRS and faux diffuser, while under the bonnet you’ll find a 123bhp 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox.
It’s the third model in a line of apprentice-built concept cars, following the 2014 CitiJet convertible Citigo and Fabia-based FUNStar pick-up revealed last year.
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