4 Minutes
Skoda's 110 R Gets a Digital Second Life
Skoda's classic 110 R coupe has been reimagined for the electric era — but only as a digital concept. Designer Richard Svec revived the Czech brand's celebrated 1970s coupe in a clean-sheet, modern form that nods to the car's motorsport DNA while embracing today's EV design language.
The original 110 R was a rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive two-door that launched in 1970 as a sportier offshoot of the 110 sedan. With a modest 62 hp 1,107 cc four-cylinder and a four-speed manual, the coupe earned a loyal following across Europe and became the seed for Skoda's racing efforts, ultimately leading to the 200 RS prototype and the iconic 130 RS rally car.
Not a retro revival — a fresh interpretation
Rather than building a nostalgic throwback, the 2025 digital concept aims for a contemporary aesthetic tied to Skoda's Modern Solid design language. Key features include a solid, grille-less front end, low-drag camera mirrors, and hidden headlights that deploy only when needed. The look is purposefully minimalist, with smooth surfaces and sculpted lines that hint at performance without copying retro cues verbatim.
Despite the modern styling, Svec preserved a few visual links to the 110 R and its rally-successor, the 130 RS. Flared wheel arches, ribbed hood detailing, and side air intakes recall the originals; in the concept they are repurposed to cool the imagined battery pack rather than feed an air-cooled engine.
Electric drivetrain, rear-wheel drive character
The concept swaps the original 110 R’s tiny petrol engine for an imagined electric drivetrain that powers the rear wheels. Skoda deliberately left the EV powertrain unspecified, but the configuration echoes the coupe's rear-driven character and underlines a motorsport focus.
Highlights of the concept include:
- Rear-wheel-drive electric layout that preserves the original driving balance
- Center-lock wheels and motorsport styling cues, including a visible roll cage
- Sensor suite integrated into a black nose panel and low-drag camera mirrors
- Side intakes adapted for battery cooling rather than engine breathing
Why the concept matters — even if it will never be built
Digital concepts like this play a growing role in automotive culture. They let designers explore bold ideas without the constraints of production engineering or safety regulations. For Skoda, revisiting the 110 R is also a way to celebrate brand heritage while signaling how classic silhouettes might translate into the EV age.
However, Skoda has been explicit: there are no production plans for the 2025 110 R concept. That decision reflects practical reality — limited market demand for a niche two-door sports EV, tight development budgets, and the company’s current emphasis on scalable electric platforms for mass-market models.
Still, enthusiasts can appreciate the storytelling and design lessons embedded in the concept. It illustrates how legacy models can inform modern proportions, aerodynamic treatments, and the emotional cues that make a car feel sporty.
Comparisons and market context
When compared with other heritage-inspired EV exercises, Skoda’s approach is pragmatic and restrained. Unlike brands that lean heavily into retro styling, the 110 R concept adapts heritage elements sparingly, prioritizing aerodynamic efficiency and contemporary manufacturing cues.
Quote: 'A digital concept lets us imagine what a marque icon could become without being tied to production constraints,' says the context behind the design.
Final thoughts
The 110 R digital concept is a thoughtful bridge between Skoda’s motorsport past and a future shaped by electric propulsion. It won't appear in dealer showrooms, but it does succeed as a piece of design storytelling — a reminder that even small cars with modest specs can leave a lasting legacy and inspire fresh creative directions for modern EV design.
Source: autoevolution
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