Latest news with #VáclavLaurin
Top Gear
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Skoda students have turned this Superb Estate into a bike-carrying pickup truck
Plug-in hybrid Superb becomes a ute with a clever bike rack and a sliding rear door to support pro bike racers Skoda loves cycling. Of course, the Czech firm started out with Václav Laurin and Václav Klement making bicycles all the way back in 1895, and in slightly more recent times it has been a main partner of the Tour de France for over two decades. So it's perhaps no surprise this year's concept car produced by the students of the Skoda Academy in Mladá Boleslav is a cyclist's dream support vehicle. Christened the Skoda L&K 130, this is the first Skoda student concept to be based on the Superb Estate, and the kids have turned it into a rad pickup style thing with space for two bikes on the racks in the extendable bed, and another on the roof.
Motor 1
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Skoda Turns Its Big Wagon Into a Truck With a Weird Door
Skoda traces its roots to 1895, when founding fathers Václav Laurin and Václav Klement established Laurin & Klement to manufacture bicycles. Car production began in 1905, and the company evolved into Skoda Auto in 1925 after being acquired by the industrial conglomerate Skoda Works. The year 2025 marks the 130 th anniversary of the original company's founding, and Skoda is celebrating with a special vehicle that pays homage to its humble beginnings as a bicycle manufacturer. The L&K 130 is a Superb wagon converted into a pickup truck by students from the Skoda Auto Vocational School. It's their tenth one-off special project and the first based on a plug-in hybrid. Skoda engineers collaborated with 28 students to reshape the B- and C-pillars and remove the rear section to accommodate a custom bike rack. Photo by: Skoda The two bikes rest on an electrically extendable bed with integrated rails that lift and tilt them at a 35-degree angle, allowing them to fit when the rear section is closed. A third bike can be mounted on the roof, but perhaps more intriguing is the rear door on the passenger side. It not only swings outward and slides backward but also features two locking mechanisms and two handles. Opening the minivan-style door reveals a single seat. The three-person rear bench from the original Superb wagon was removed to make room for a cool box and an external speaker kit. A new rear window was designed to suit the modified body style. Up front, Skoda added a radio transmitter and a tablet that displays footage from a rear-mounted camera. Beyond the structural modifications and reworked interior, the students applied gold, red, white, and black accents as a tribute to the Laurin & Klement logo. The original L&K badge, dating back 130 years, replaces the familiar winged arrow emblem that has been in use for the past century. The unique wagon-turned-pickup project required over 2,000 hours to complete. The L&K 130 will be showcased next month during the 112 th edition of the Tour de France, which Skoda has supported for over two decades. As with previous Student Cars, a production version isn't planned. Skoda L&K 130 pickup truck based on the Superb Combi 18 Source: Skoda See Other Skoda Student Cars: Skoda Afriq Debuts As Lightweight AWD Concept With Drinking Water Generator Skoda Mountiaq Debuts As Rad One-Off Pickup Based On Kodiaq Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
