For anyone who grew up in the 1980s, the decade’s supercars were the ultimate automotive fantasy. They filled bedroom walls, starred in arcade games and TV shows, and set performance benchmarks that seemed almost untouchable. Cars that could sprint from 0-62mph in around five seconds were the preserve of six-figure exotica, built with one goal in mind: speed.
Fast forward four decades, and those once-unimaginable performance figures are no longer reserved for low-slung Italian thoroughbreds or hand-built German supercars.
Škoda has underlined just how dramatically performance has evolved by lining up its new Elroq vRS against a selection of iconic 1980s supercars in a straight-line drag race. The film serves as a reminder of how far automotive technology has come, and how the performance hierarchy has been turned on its head.
The Elroq vRS produces 340PS and 545Nm from its twin electric motors, launching from 0-62mph in just 5.4 seconds. On paper, that places it firmly in the same acceleration territory as many of the poster cars that defined an era.
Back in the 1980s, figures like that belonged to machines engineered with little regard for practicality or everyday usability. Today, they’re delivered by an all-electric SUV capable of carrying five passengers, offering up to 344 miles of WLTP range, and recharging from 10 to 80 per cent in around 29 minutes using a 185kW DC charger.
It’s a striking illustration of how the automotive landscape has changed. Where once buyers needed a mid-engined exotic to experience genuine supercar acceleration, modern electric powertrains have democratised straight-line performance. Instant torque has become the great equaliser.
The comparison isn’t intended to diminish the legendary machines of the 1980s. Those cars remain icons thanks to their styling, character, analogue driving experience and the sense of occasion they delivered, qualities that continue to make them highly desirable today. But it does highlight how remarkable modern performance has become, even in vehicles designed primarily for family life.
Pietro Panarisi, Head of PR & Communications at Škoda UK, said: “Many of us grew up admiring the supercars of the 1980s. They were the benchmark for performance and captured the imagination of a generation. 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.”
While few enthusiasts are likely to replace their dream 1980s supercar with an electric SUV, the numbers tell an undeniable story. Performance that once defined the world’s fastest road cars is now available in a practical, family-friendly package, proof that, at least in a straight line, the definition of “supercar fast” has changed forever.
