Automotive

Electric beach buggy concept opens up to the Elements

Electric beach buggy concept opens up to the Elements
This year's student creation, the Skoda Element
This year's student creation, the Skoda Element 
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The 2015 team of students built the Skoda Funstar
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The 2015 team of students built the Skoda Funstar
The 2015 Funstar was designed as a "sassy" pickup
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The 2015 Funstar was designed as a "sassy" pickup 
Based on the Rapid, the Funstar envisions a compact pickup truck for the city
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Based on the Rapid, the Funstar envisions a compact pickup truck for the city
The Funstar with the team of students responsible for its creation in 2015
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The Funstar with the team of students responsible for its creation in 2015
The Atero with its development team in 2016
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The Atero with its development team in 2016
The student team created the Atero in 2016
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The student team created the Atero in 2016
Based on the Rapid, the Atero was a bit sportier
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Based on the Rapid, the Atero was a bit sportier 
The Atero is a two-door Rapid fastback
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The Atero is a two-door Rapid fastback 
The work of students, the Atero was launched in 2016
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The work of students, the Atero was launched in 2016
This year's student creation, the Skoda Element
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This year's student creation, the Skoda Element 
Students work on the Skoda Element
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Students work on the Skoda Element
A team of 22 worked on the Element
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A team of 22 worked on the Element 
The Element is totally unique, with two seats and no doors, windows or roof
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The Element is totally unique, with two seats and no doors, windows or roof 
View gallery - 13 images

Every year, Skoda gives members of its trainee program the freedom to create a unique concept. The results have been impressive in the past few years, with students creating funky compact pickups and fastback city cars, but the latest trainee team has used the sea and sand as inspiration, turning the Citigo into an electric beach buggy called the Element.

Although it's based on the Skoda Citigo – which itself is based on the Volkswagen up! – the Element has a completely unique look. Given the team of 22 students poured about 1,500 hours into its development, that's probably not entirely surprising. Gone are the doors and windows, and there isn't any sun (or rain) protection in the form of a roof, either. This is a proper outdoorsy buggy, designed to put its two passengers out in the weather.

Power comes from an electric motor making 60 kW (80 hp). Skoda hasn't released details about predicted range, but the VW e-up! makes exactly the same amount of power and has a claimed range of 180 km (112 mi) from its 18.7-kWh battery pack. So if it were to hit the road as a production car, the Element would likely manage similar numbers.

"Electromobility is not just a temporary trend – it is the future," says student Daniel Launa. "That's why we have opted to build a car with an electric drive system."

The Element joins a growing line of student-built cars from the VW Group. Along with the Skoda Funstar and Atero, trainees over at Volkswagen have fettled the Golf GTI and R at Worthersee in the past as well. Check out the gallery for a look at the last few Skoda concepts.

Source: Skoda

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