Currently reading: Skoda Slavia: student-built Scala Spider named
One-off open-top variant of family hatchback will be unveiled later this month

Students from Skoda’s Vocational Academy are developing an open-top Spider version of the Skoda Scala, which has been named the Slavia in recognition of the Czech brand's origins.

Skoda founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement first began working together 125 years ago, repairing and then selling bicycles under the Slavia name. 

The roofless version of the family car will be revealed later this month and will be the seventh concept car produced by students on the Czech firm’s training scheme. Previous machines have included a Skoda Kodiaq-based pick-up and a convertible Skoda Karoq.

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The Scala Spider is being developed by a team of 20 apprentices currently training at Skoda’s Mlada Boleslav headquarters, with guidance from design chief Oliver Stefani. Skoda engineers are giving advice to the team while the machine is constructed.

The Scala was launched in late 2018 and this is the first time the hatch has been used as the basis for a student car project. The students are given a standard version of the car and the design freedom to adapt it as they wish. Having decided on an open-top bodystyle, design work has focused on making the car’s lines more prominent to give it added ‘visual dynamics’.

The finished Scala Spider is scheduled to be revealed in June and there is no production intent for the car.

The first student car concept was the Citijet, a two-seat Citigo. It was followed by the Funstar (a Fabia-based pick-up), the Atero (Rapid-Spaceback-based coupé), the Citigo-based electric Element, the Sunroq (a Karoq convertible) and last year's Mountiaq.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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MrJ 9 July 2020

An ace idea, which would be

An ace idea, which would be even better if it became a real-life sporty EV.

Peter Cavellini 9 July 2020

Porsche718 kit car?

 While it looks great in the pics, you can't help but notice the Porsche influence!?

Peter Cavellini 20 March 2020

Problem is....

 The concept pics look good, but, no front view?

Bob Cat Brian 20 March 2020

Peter Cavellini wrote:

Peter Cavellini wrote:

 The concept pics look good, but, no front view?

Its based on the Scala, it'll look like a Scala from the front.  

these are great projects for the students, as a former Auto Eng student I'm envious!