Škoda’s academy school students get to make some really cool concepts and the tenth anniversary Student Car coincides with the company’s 130th birthday, so the brief was suitably ambitious. Behold the Skoda L&K 130 – a concept that pays tribute to the many elements that form the brand’s rich heritage.
This year’s concept is a purpose-built ute based on the Skoda Superb Combi (estate) that would be the dream support vehicle for a professional cycling team at any race event. Working alongside Škoda designers, engineers and their own tutors, the 28 students clocked more than 2,000 hours to make the concept road-ready.
Re-engineering the Superb
The Skoda Superb has been the brand’s flagship sedan for decades and the Combi or wagon body type has its own cult following, especially in Europe. For the L&K 130 Concept, it’s been designed to carry multiple cycle racks with easy accessibility for fast swaps which is essential in a pro-cycling race. Well, a ute has the most easily accessible storage design and so the transformation began.
From estate to pick-up
- Roof removed behind the C-pillar
- B- and C-pillars reshaped for new body structure
- New cargo bed replaces the boot
- Added support beams that house the cycle racks
It also gets a partition with the rear window behind the single rear seat. For added wow factor, the newly formed rear section is also electrically extendable with the two bike carrier frames also mounted on movable rails. These rails lift and tilt the bikes at a 35-degree angle when the cargo tray is closed. With the roof rack as well, the L&K 130 is fit for carrying three fully-assembled pro-cycles.
Sliding safety door
The students weren’t quite satisfied with the ute conversion with the electrically extendable tray and they went and added a sliding rear door too. Here’s why and how it works:
- The right-hand rear door now pivots outwards then slides rearwards on bespoke rails.
- Dual latching points maintain body rigidity; twin exterior handles aid access.
- Design minimises the risk of opening into passing cyclists.
Cycling-specific hardware
The support role for a pro-cycling team is more than just spare cycles and so the cabin of the L&K 130 carries some unique elements too.
| Feature | Detail |
| Support tech | Passenger-side display for live rider data, radio transmitter, on-board Wi-Fi |
| Storage | 3D-printed overhead net console, cooled locker for drinks & gels |
| Safety & comms | Full lighting rig, illuminated grille with colour-matched RGB LEDs |
Cabin & colours
The Skoda students also took into account the heritage of the “Laurin & Klement” brand for the visual cues for the 130th anniversary celebration. That’s why the Skoda L&K 130 concept is draped in a combination of red, gold and white and the bespoke theme carries through to the interior as well.
Additional details honoring the brand’s history include:
- Embroidered “130 Years” logos in the sports seats
- Historic L&K badge on the bonnet, steering wheel and centre caps for the wheels
- Illuminated front grille reprises the colour palette for night-time presence
The Skoda-cycling connection
In case you’ve ever tuned in to a pro-cycle race in Europe like the Tour de France or the Giro d’Italia in the past few years, you might have noticed that many of the support vehicles tend to be Skoda wagons. In fact, Skoda has been a support sponsor for the Tour de France for over 20 years. It’s not just a matter of how practical the cars are or a branding exercise from the Czech automaker, as the cycling connection runs far deeper.
In 1895, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement began their business in Mladá Boleslav by manufacturing bicycles. The duo later expanded to motorcycles, and then to cars. So, the Skoda L&K 130 is not just a cool concept, it’s one that truly honours the brand’s history.
Powertrain – plug-in first
Among the many firsts for a student concept car, including the fact that it’s based on the Superb, this is also the first to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Since there were no changes to the front and the concept does not need any additional dynamic capabilities, the L&K 130 retains the regular Superb’s 160 kW (218 PS) iV PHEV set-up. It uses a combination of the 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine and an 85 kW e-motor supported by a 13kWh battery. Electric-only range is unchanged at around 50 km – enough for zero-emission support stages through city centres.
Where you’ll see it
The Skoda L&K 130 makes its public debut at cycling events throughout 2025, culminating in a guest appearance at the 112th Tour de France (5–27 July) where Škoda continues its long-standing role as official vehicle partner.
Why it matters
Škoda’s Student Car initiative gives apprentices free rein to explore engineering and design ideas that may influence future production models. The L&K 130’s clever sliding rear door, integrated bike-lift system and 3D-printed cabin parts are all real-world demonstrations of that ethos – and a rolling tribute to the brand’s roots in two-wheeled transport.
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