Skoda traces its roots to 1895, when founding fathers Václav Laurin and Václav Klement established Laurin & Klement to fabricate bicycles. Automobile manufacturing started in 1905, and the corporate advanced into Skoda Auto in 1925 after being acquired by the economic conglomerate Skoda Works. The 12 months 2025 marks the 130^th anniversary of the unique firm’s founding, and Skoda is celebrating with a particular car that pays homage to its humble beginnings as a bicycle producer.

The L&Okay 130 is a Very good wagon transformed right into a pickup truck by college students from the Skoda Auto Vocational Faculty. It’s their tenth one-off particular undertaking and the primary primarily based on a plug-in hybrid. Skoda engineers collaborated with 28 college students to reshape the B- and C-pillars and take away the rear part to accommodate a customized bike rack.

Photograph by: Skoda

The 2 bikes relaxation on an electrically extendable mattress with built-in rails that elevate and tilt them at a 35-degree angle, permitting them to suit when the rear part is closed. A 3rd bike may be mounted on the roof, however maybe extra intriguing is the rear door on the passenger aspect. It not solely swings outward and slides backward but additionally options two locking mechanisms and two handles.

Opening the minivan-style door reveals a single seat. The three-person rear bench from the unique Very good wagon was eliminated to make room for a cool field and an exterior speaker equipment. A brand new rear window was designed to swimsuit the modified physique fashion. Up entrance, Skoda added a radio transmitter and a pill that shows footage from a rear-mounted digital camera.

Past the structural modifications and reworked inside, the scholars utilized gold, pink, white, and black accents as a tribute to the Laurin & Klement emblem. The unique L&Okay badge, relationship again 130 years, replaces the acquainted winged arrow emblem that has been in use for the previous century. The distinctive wagon-turned-pickup undertaking required over 2,000 hours to finish.

The L&Okay 130 will likely be showcased subsequent month throughout the 112^th version of the Tour de France, which Skoda has supported for over 20 years. As with earlier Pupil Automobiles, a manufacturing model isn’t deliberate.

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Supply: Skoda