Skoda Is Making A Cabriolet-SUV, But Only As A Concept

Skoda has dropped more revealing teasers of its droptop compact crossover. New details have also been disclosed, with the unusual concept featuring a lower ride height thanks to shock absorbers borrowed from the Octavia RS.

Power comes from the VW Group's familiar 1.5 TSI allowing the Karoq Cabriolet concept to hit 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds before topping out at 204 km/h. We also get to learn it has the same length, width, and wheelbase as the regular Karoq, but with a redesigned rear end and a new exhaust system. The A- and B-pillars have also been modified, while the door handles are now illuminated. Rounding off the changes are special indicator lights and new bumpers incorporating projectors showing the Skoda logo on the tarmac at night.

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, Range Rover Evoque Convertible, VW T-Roc Convertible – these are some of the oddities created to blur the line between an SUV and a convertible. Skoda is going down the same road with the upcoming Karoq Convertible, but (thankfully) it will remain strictly as a concept. Modified by the talented students at Skoda's vocational school, the study will be unveiled to the public in June.

Aged 17 and 18, the 20 students come from seven different professions and have been tasked to give the Karoq a split personality by turning it into a convertible. Details about the one-off creation have not been disclosed, but the adjacent teaser image shows the quirky mashup will forgo the rear doors. Judging by the tall rear end, the vehicle is likely being engineered to accommodate a retractable roof that will be stowed behind the seats.

It remains to be seen whether it'll be a fabric top or a metal roof, though we're leaning towards the former. One of the sketches attached below suggests the Karoq Cabriolet study will not only lose the rear doors, but also the rear seats taking into account there doesn't seem to be enough room behind the front seats for a second row.

Far from being the first project from Skoda's vocational school, the one-off cabriolet-SUV will follow four other unique cars introduced in recent years. The first of the bunch was a two-seater Citigo (2014), followed by a Fabia pickup (2015), a Rapid Spaceback coupe (2016), and a Citigo electric buggy (2017).

As it was the case with the previous four concepts, the new Karoq Cabriolet is being developed with input coming from Skoda's designers.