Skoda reboots 1970s classic 110 R coupé for the electric age
Skoda has breathed new life into one of its classics with the reveal of the 2025 110 R.
The reboot is the brainchild of Skoda designer Richard Švec, who works as part of the brand’s digital modelling team.
A 1970s classic
The Coupé was a pioneering model for Skoda and was produced at the brand’s Kvasiny plant between 1970 and 1980, taking the 110 sedan and giving it a sleeker design, rear mounted engine and rear wheel drive layout.
Powered by a 1,107cc four-cylinder engine delivering 61bhp and weighing only 880kg, the 110 R was able to reach 90mph and laid the foundations for the brand’s motorsport exploits by inspiring the 200 RS prototype and then the 130 RS, which was more than competitive at the race circuit.
Now it has been brought forward into the modern age, with Švec taking inspiration from the classic design and reimagining it as a modern, simplistic EV.
The reboot
The 2025 110 R appears to be a lot stronger than the original and is defined by its modern, smooth surfaces and muscular edges.
Skoda has dipped into the past and carried over little touches like flared arches, a visible roll cage, centre lock wheels and ribbed detailing on the bonnet from its motorsport heritage. It takes the same rear-wheel drive layout from the original 110 R and also repurposes side air intakes as cooling ducts for the battery pack.
Mirrors are replaced by low-drag cameras, while the headlights are hidden beneath sliding covers until used, as Švec made the most of the modern automotive technology available to him. There’s also a black front panel that integrates sensors, vertical LED running lights and an illuminated Skoda badge. The same badge is repeated on the rear of the car and rear windows.
“I didn’t want to recreate the past”
The modern day 110 R was developed using a combination of traditional and digital methods. Richard Švec began the project by sketching the car’s design, before evolving it into a 3D digital model.
Švec discussed the design process of the 2025 110 R, saying: “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.”
Will it be released?
There are currently no plans to put the 2025 110 R into production, with it acting merely as a design study at this stage. Its design, however, along with Skoda’s heritage, will help develop the brand’s next generation of cars.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Skoda