Skoda Funstar Fabia-based ute created by apprentices

Autocar reports that there's a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine living underneath the Funstar's large bonnet vents. The 1.2-litre mill cranks out 90kW of power to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission.

Apparently the design team wanted to fit the Volkswagen Group's larger 1.8-litre turbo, but it was deemed too large for the Funstar. The car rides on a retuned suspension system and 18-inch alloy wheels borrowed from the Octavia RS, which have been spruced up with lick of lime green paint.

The lime green theme is carried over to the grille, driving lights, side skirts, wing mirrors and underbody lighting. Lime green highlights are also present in the interior, and accompany the car's 1400W sound system and 200W subwoofer.

Most of the concept's modifications occur from the B-pillar rearwards. These include the removal of the rear doors, hatch and rear passenger compartment, which have all been replaced by new body panels, a wider B-pillar and a stainless steel-lined cargo tray.

The Funstar will make its full public debut at the GTI festival that takes place this May at Worthersee, Austria. It will be a follow up to last year's CitiJet concept, which was also designed by students at the Skoda Academy.

Reports in the British press indicate that the Funstar is strictly a concept with no production future. The Funstar's name was apparently chosen via a competition run at a nearby primary school, and is said by Auto Express to be a tribute to the Felicia Fun, a ute variant of the company's 1990s hatchback.

The Skoda Academy is a vocational school, with almost 900 students, based in the town of Mlada Boleslav, Skoda's spiritual home in the Czech Republic.