Hnnnnnnggghhhh. Grrrrrrrrrr. Fraffafafafafrafarfafrffrraaaffff.
Um, are you OK?
Sorry, Neil seems to be having some kind of episode. We think he's a bit too excited about Skoda's electric do-over of its classic 110 R Coupe. Hang on, and we'll try to translate his incoherent droolings.
OK, so what's a 110 R Coupe?
Going by Neil's expression, we reckon that the 110 R Coupe, which was made between 1970 and 1980, was one of those rare things — a Communist-era car that was actually good. Looking cute as a button, and with 1,100cc and 62hp powering 880kg from out behind the rear wheels, the 110 R Coupe was often thought of as a poor man's Porsche, and little wonder that it kicked off something of a sporting and racing legend for Skoda. Its sleek profile meant that the little engine could push it to a 150km/h top speed — rapid for the day — and it would eventually spawn other fast Skodas such as the 200 RS and 130 RS. Without the 110 R Coupe, there would be no modern Skoda RS models.
So, what's this new 110 R Coupe?
Neil has gone off for a lie-down with a cold towel on his head, but his random grunting before he left seemed to indicate that this 2025 110 R is a one-off coupe concept car that leans into Skoda's recent successes in the electric car field.
It's the work of Richard Švec, one of Skoda's design team, who works in the digital modelling department. While it's clearly inspired by the 1970 original, Švec's new design is very modern, with sheer surfaces and modern proportions. Mind you, Neil's wild rantings before the tranquillisers took hold suggested that he could also see hints of DeLorean and Lancia Beta Monte Carlo in the style of this 110 R concept.
Is this one rear-engined?
Yes, but not as much so as the original. There's no engine slung out behind the back axle, but the 110 R's electric motor is rear-mounted, and Švec has modernised the distinctive rear air intakes, which no longer feed a combustion engine but do contribute to cooling the battery pack. “Because an EV doesn't need the same kind of cooling system as a combustion car, I was able to keep the shapes and surfaces beautifully clean”, said Švec.
Other neat details include cameras instead of door mirrors, and slim headlights lying behind discreet retractable covers. “Lighting tells you so much about a car's era,” Švec explained. “Reusing round headlights or retro tail lamps would have been too backward-looking. Instead, I used Skoda's new Tech-loop lighting signature, recently introduced with the Vision O concept.”
Will any of this come through to production?
Don't let Neil hear you, but that's very unlikely. As with other concepts from Skoda — including the Felicia Fun and the Favorit — this is really a design exercise and not much more, although it should be remembered that Audi has a new electric sports car platform ripe for the sharing…
There are a few details that one could imagine making the leap from concept to production — the 'electric razor' grille detail on top of the bonnet, a homage to the classic rear-engined Skoda look, could become a styling motif in an era of grille-less electric cars, while the lower black panel that houses the safety sensors, and the glowing rear logo look very like production-ready items.
According to Švec, this was about delving into Skoda's heritage for new ideas, without becoming overtly retro: “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.”
Er… will Neil be OK, do you think?
He will be once he's had a cold shower. And once someone at Skoda has thrown him the keys to an original 110 R Coupe…