To many motoring enthusiasts, the iconic supercars of the 1980s represented the pinnacle of automotive performance. Posters of the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Testarossa hung on the bedroom walls of an entire generation of drivers during their formative years, while forced induction helped cars like the Porsche 944 Turbo seriously challenge some of the big boys at the time.
The reason for mentioning these three cars is because Škoda UK recently organised a drag race at Dunsfold Aerodrome, best known as the home of Top Gear, where it pitted those three iconic cars against its latest performance model.
That car is the 2026 Elroq vRS, which is officially the fastest accelerating production car the Czech brand has ever produced, with an official 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of 5.4 seconds.
The catch? It’s a fully electric SUV. And that’s precisely where Škoda tried to make a strange point with this drag race, that somewhat falls flat.
You can watch the race unfold below…
What the company sought to demonstrate is “how a modern electric family SUV can outperform many of the performance heroes that once appeared on posters on bedroom walls”, per the company’s press release.
“Many of us grew up admiring the supercars of the 1980s,” explains Pietro Panarisi, head of PR and communications at Škoda UK.
“What makes the Elroq vRS so exciting is that it demonstrates how far automotive technology has progressed over the decades.
“It delivers acceleration that rivals cars once considered unattainable performance icons, while also offering the practicality, comfort and usability customers expect from a modern Škoda.
“Unlike most poster cars, there’s enough room for shopping bags, suitcases and the family dog.”
It’s true, the Elroq vRS does deliver impressive acceleration and outputs of 250kW/545Nm alongside comfortable seating for five and a 470-litre boot. However, there are modern hot hatches that would outgun it – many of which, such as the Volkswagen Golf R or Audi S3 and RS3, also hail from within the Volkswagen Group that Škoda is part of.
The label of ‘supercar-rivalling performance’ certainly needs one big asterisk next to it.
The point that should also be remembered is why cars like the Countach, Testarossa, and 944 Turbo are still so valuable and collectible today: they have drama, passion, and soul coursing through every aspect of them.
Everyone knows cars today are faster and better engineered, but there’s something still so special about these classic exotics that can’t be defined on a spec sheet. That’s why we love them – and clearly why the Škoda team loves them enough to have pulled this stunt together as well.
It’s quite the form of flattery towards the classics, especially as the evocative sound of their exhausts can be clearly heard in the video over the silent whoosh of the Elroq.
We do quite like a Škoda here at Retro Rides, however, given the brand takes every opportunity it can to honour its 130-year heritage, including its many road cars and its motorsport ambitions. Maybe that’s why the lineup of this drag race does look like a rather appealing four-car garage.
