The Skoda Afriq is a racing SUV created by Skoda students based on the Skoda Kamiq in the image and likeness of the cars that compete in Safari-style rallies in Africa or Paris Dakar. At the moment it is a unique concept made by hand. Who knows if in the not too distant future Skoda will officially compete in rally events again?
A rally SUV? MINI has already competed in the WRC a long time ago with the John Cooper Works Countryman. This 2022 Ford has officially returned to the world championship with the Puma. Therefore, it is not nonsense, they are the fashionable cars and they are even more so in the small SUV segment.
Skoda has taken us to the Czech Republic to see and test the Afriq. Taking a first look it seems clear that it is a Rally Raid or WRC style version of the Kamiq, which in part it is, as it is a rally declension of Skoda’s small SUV.
Skoda has been carrying out this type of project since the academic year 2013/2014. The Afriq is the eighth concept car created by this initiative in which 25 students have taken part this time.
The Afriq is not for sale as it is a unique prototype. Now, the Kamiq on which it is based is.
- If you want a new Skoda Kamiq right now in coche.net there are 23 advertised from 19,900 euros.
- But if you don’t get enough for the new one, at coche.net there are more than 200 second-hand Skoda Kamiq from 17,690 euros.
Afriq for Africa
To begin with, its name Afriq makes a reference to Africa, a continent where the famous Dakar Rally was once organized. Precisely the Afriq has been presented with a dirt configuration, very much in the style of what would be expected of a WRC prepared to take part in a Pharaohs, Greece or Safari style rally.
But this reference to Africa goes even further. Since January 1, 2021, Skoda Auto has been responsible for the entire Volkswagen Group for activities in North Africa: Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.
The team of 25 students behind this ambitious project comes from the Skoda Vocational School in Mlada Boleslav. In fact, the development of the Afriq began two years ago when we were still under strict restrictive measures derived from the Covid-19 pandemic. It is estimated that they spent 2,000 hours in bringing this rally car to life.
Alongside the students, numerous Škoda departments have collaborated in the development of the Afriq, especially the Škoda Motorsport department. A department with extensive experience in the ERC and the WRC. Since 2009 Skoda Motorsport has sold more than 500 Fabia rally cars.
Although there is no road version of the Kamiq with all-wheel drive, the Afriq is equipped with a 4×4 drive system, which is used by the Octiva 4×4. The Afriq’s design is clearly inspired by that of the Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo. Both for the rally preparation and for the vinyl decoration that decorates it.
If you haven’t noticed yet, it’s a two-door! The Kamiq on which it is based is only for sale with a 5-door body. Here the rear doors have been welded, similar to what Automobili Amos has done with its Delta Futurista, based on the iconic Lancia Delta HF Integrale.
An engine that is not available on the Kamiq has also been mounted under the front hood. It uses a two-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder from the Octavia. A mechanic that declares 190 CV. The gearbox is the 7-speed DSG. According to the brand, the weight of the set remains at 1,350 kilos.
Aesthetically, the 15″ OZ wheels stand out, as well as numerous elements derived directly from the Fabia Rally 2 evo. The passenger compartment is also 100% racing, not in vain has it been made with components supplied directly by Skoda Motorsport.
Welded roll bar cage, competition backets, 6-point harnesses, fire extinguisher, intercoms… All this has also been supplied by Skoda Motorsport, as they are components that make up the Fabia Rally 2 evo.
Inside the cabin of the Afriq is a Watergen drinking water generator. A complex system that is responsible for recovering humidity from the environment and converting it into water that the Afriq pilots can drink.
Thoroughly with a unique car
The usual thing with a unique car like this would have been to observe it in static. However, Skoda offered us the opportunity to test it and not in any way, we were able to thoroughly test it on a circuit.
What surprised me most is how well finished it was. This is a car that was made by a group of students in a 100% handmade way and yet it almost gives the feeling of being a large production car due to the good finish it presents.
It mounts a powerful 2-liter turbo engine with 190 hp, a mechanism that is not available in the Kamiq range on which it is based. It offers a good delivery, but for now they could have opted for the 245 hp engine from the Octavia RS.
In addition, the Kamiq is a front-wheel drive SUV. However, the Afriq has been fitted with an all-wheel drive system derived from the one used by the Octavia. A 4×4 system helps transmit all of the engine’s power to the ground.
A handbrake is missing to be able to play even more with the rear. With a handbrake from before, with a lever, it would be hilarious. Note that the Afriq has no controls. It’s all off. There is no ABS, ESP, traction control, nothing at all, everything is OFF.
The most beast is how well the chassis responds. Its competition suspension kit offers spectacular dynamic behavior. Not only does it guarantee greater ground clearance. It also filters irregularities with amazing ease. No matter how big the pothole, it drives over them without flinching.
As a perfect complement to this preparation, its 15” wheels are fitted with studded tires. A really good offroad rubber that helps to filter out bumps even more and already on, it guarantees a good level of grip off the asphalt.
The gearbox is a 7-speed DSG without the possibility of using it in manual mode as it lacks a traditional lever and does not have paddles behind the steering wheel to manage the change.
The brakes are somewhat fair for the set. After a few laps at a happy pace they end up suffering. When mounting 15” wheels, the diameter of the discs is greatly limited, with larger diameter wheels the discs and calipers of the Octavia RS would have fit, but with such a small wheel it is impossible.
In short
It has been great to be able to test this exercise designed, built and fine-tuned by a group of students in a circuit. We must recognize the enormous effort made by the young people behind this project, who in addition to completing their classes have dedicated their free time to learning to work as a team and at the same time to make a car from scratch.
Some time ago I was able to test a Formula Student created by the ETSEIB Motorsport team of the UPC University of Barcelona. Another example of the effort and improvement of a group of students who, from a very young age, already know clearly that they want to work in the automobile industry.
