Still want that vRS? Skoda revives Octavia as wild 444bhp EV restomod
Skoda has revealed two radical restomods based on classic versions of its best-selling Octavia.
The French wing of the Czech car maker recently held a competition inviting engineers to reimagine its historic vehicles for the electric age.
The French W-Autosport tuning outfit and the Strate School of Design in Paris recently teamed up with French TV show, Turbo, to create an all-electric restomod version of the classic Skoda Octavia.
Named ‘Project X’, the car is based on the original Octavia produced by the Czech manufacturer from 1959 to 1971. Despite sharing the same profile as Skoda’s much-loved family car, that’s where the similarities end.
A huge front splitter and flared wheel arches dominate the car’s front end to produce downforce, while the exposed boot – also surrounded by flared arches and air scoops – displays the electric motor, which is reportedly capable of producing 444bhp and a staggering 738lb ft of torque.
Inside, Project X is a pure race car thanks to a stripped down interior featuring Sparco racing seats, a three-spoke racing steering wheel, a blanked out dashboard with a digital driver’s display, and a hydraulic handbrake.
The car is finished in Mamba Green; a colour exclusive to Skoda’s line of performance-orientated vRS models including its latest Octavia and outgoing Enyaq EV.
Project X was born from Skoda France’s recent Retrofit Challenge competition. The rules dictated that participants had to restore a classic Octavia and retrofit it with an electric drivetrain capable of 180 kilometres on a single charge.
The other Octavia restomod of note to come from the competition was the ‘Voltavia’ Combi (estate/wagon) built by e-mobility publication, Automobile Propre.
The Voltavia retains a relatively classic appearance, with a few modifications made in the name of efficiency such as an air dam at the front end, and aerodynamically designed wheels. The car finished in matt effect ‘Explorer Green’, which debuted on the Skoda Vision 7S concept in 2022, and has since carried over to its existing range of cars, including the new Enyaq.
The team behind the Voltavia retained the original car’s metal dashboard and two-spoke steering wheel. However, the orange interior elements add a contemporary touch to things, and are a carry over from Skoda’s current line-up.
In performance terms, the Voltavia takes a much more leisurely approach to all-electric motoring thanks to a power output of 102bhp and 162lb ft of torque. To underline Skoda’s commitment to electric transport, the Voltavia’s boot houses an electric scooter.
