Škoda 110 R coupé reimagined for electric future
- 7 October 2025
- 0
Škoda has brought its 110 R coupé from the 1970s into the electric future with a designer makeover. The latest classic Škoda to get a reboot, the rear-engined,
Škoda has brought its 110 R coupé from the 1970s into the electric future with a designer makeover.
The latest classic Škoda to get a reboot, the rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupé has been reimagined under the brand’s Modern Solid design philosophy.
The “clean-sheet rework” reenvisages the 110 R with electric propulsion but still with a rear-wheel-drive layout that remains faithful to the original.
The radical redesign adds in motorsport features that include a roll cage and centre-lock wheels, along with ribbed detailing on the bonnet that pays “subtle homage” to the 130 RS rally car. The air intakes below the rear side windows recall the original model’s engine inlet but take on a new function as cooling ducts for the battery pack.
Technology plays a starring role. Low-drag cameras replace conventional mirrors, while the headlights are concealed beneath sliding covers that only reveal themselves when in use and are based on Škoda’s new Tech-loop lighting signature, recently introduced with the Vision O concept.
Other details include a striking black front panel that integrates a host of sensors, vertical LED running lights, and an illuminated Škoda badge. At the rear, a standalone glowing logo takes centre stage, mirrored on the wheels and even within the rear windows.
The original 110 R coupe spawned a host of race and rally models.
The reboot was penned by Richard Švec, a designer at Škoda Auto who works in the digital modelling team and wanted to craft a bold, forward-looking reimagining of the coupé for the electric age.
He explained: “I didn’t want to recreate the past. The goal was to capture the spirit of the 110 R in a car that feels innovative and absolutely contemporary. Finding the right balance between heritage and modernity was the real challenge.
“I’ve always been drawn to elegant cars – those with clean surfaces and simple details. That’s exactly what the 110 R did so well. It was stylish, but it also had real motorsport credibility. That combination fascinated me.”
The rebooted vision of the 110 R was brought to life using both traditional and digital tools.
Produced at the Kvasiny plant between 1970 and 1980, the 110 R coupé was derived from the Škoda 110 saloon and first introduced to the UK in 1971. The rear-mounted, 1,107cc four-cylinder engine delivered 62hp, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Thanks to its light 880kg kerbweight and highly aerodynamic profile, the 110 R could reach 90mph.
The 110 R also springboarded Škoda’s motorsport ambitions, providing the foundation for the extreme 200 RS prototype and, later, the 130 RS; one of the most successful rally and circuit racers of its generation.
The reboot is purely a design study as part of the brand’s ongoing series of modern reinterpretations, following in the footsteps of the 1980s Favorit hatchback, the Felicia pickup, the 200 RS, the 1203 van and the original Voiturette.
