Tag Archives: Czech Republic

News

Czech police officers stopped a Velomobile

There are traffic stops, and then there are traffic curiosities. Last weekend in the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic, police officers clocked something that looked less like a commuter and more like a Winter Olympics prop. Low, sleek, and shaped like an oversized cigarette—or a racing bobsled that missed its turn for the ice track—the vehicle glided along the road between Ostravica and Stará Hamry.

It wasn’t a runaway luge. It wasn’t a DIY rocket sled. It was a velomobile.

When officers initiated the stop, a man emerged from the aerodynamic pod and calmly explained what they were looking at: a human-powered vehicle, no engine, no fuel tank, just legs and lungs doing the heavy lifting. According to police, the encounter ended not with a citation but with well wishes for “many sporting successes and a safe journey.” Try getting that kind of send-off in a modified Civic.

What Exactly Is a Velomobile?

Think bicycle—but optimized in a wind tunnel and wrapped in bodywork.

A velomobile is essentially an aerodynamic tricycle. Most follow a three-wheel layout: two up front for stability, one in the rear as the drive wheel. Underneath the shell, you’ll usually find the bones of a recumbent bicycle or trike. The rider sits low, legs stretched forward, pedaling like on a conventional bike while steering with hand controls.

The big difference? That slippery outer skin. The composite body is designed to slice through the air, shield the rider from weather, and dramatically improve efficiency. In the right conditions, these human-powered torpedoes can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph). That’s brisk enough to keep up with urban traffic—and fast enough to make a patrol car take notice.

No driver’s license is required, and as long as it meets road regulations, it’s perfectly legal on public roads in the Czech Republic. In this case, police confirmed the vehicle had the necessary parameters. Translation: it may look like a prop from a low-budget sci-fi film, but it checks out.

Performance Without Petroleum

Velomobiles occupy a fascinating middle ground between bicycle and car. They offer weather protection, improved aerodynamics, and cargo capacity, yet remain entirely human-powered. For city dwellers looking to dodge congestion—and maybe skip leg day at the gym—they present an intriguing alternative.

The driver told police he was using the vehicle for training, which makes sense. Pedaling a streamlined shell at highway-adjacent speeds isn’t casual Sunday cruising; it’s a full-body workout disguised as futuristic commuting.

The Price of Pedal-Powered Speed

Companies like Leitra in Denmark build fully assembled velomobiles starting at around €4,000. That gets you a ready-to-ride machine, often equipped with lighting systems powered by either 6-volt or 12-volt batteries for visibility and accessories.

Feeling mechanically inclined? Leitra also offers kit versions for roughly €2,660. Some assembly required—but the payoff is entry into one of the most niche and quietly hardcore corners of personal transportation.

Not a Joke—Just Different

In an era when “aerodynamic efficiency” usually involves active grille shutters and underbody panels, the velomobile takes the concept back to basics. No hybrid systems. No over-the-air updates. Just carbon fiber (or fiberglass), chain drive, and quadriceps.

It may resemble a rolling cigarette, but it’s a reminder that performance doesn’t always need pistons. Sometimes, all it takes is a rider willing to push—and a police patrol curious enough to pull it over.

News

Bentley Honors Czech Airmen with Mulliner’s Heroic Czech Squadron Collection

In a celebration that fuses history, craftsmanship, and courage, Bentley Prague has unveiled its first bespoke Mulliner commission — the Czech Squadron Collection — a quartet of meticulously handcrafted Bentleys honoring the valor of Czech airmen who fought alongside the Royal Air Force during World War II.

Created in close collaboration with the British Ministry of Defence, the collection reimagines Bentley’s Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, Flying Spur, and Bentayga through the lens of four legendary RAF squadrons — Nos. 310, 311, 312, and 313 — each represented by its own distinctive insignia, motto, and bespoke design cues.

“The Czech Squadron Collection is the first Mulliner edition commissioned by Bentley Prague, and we chose a theme that was close to our hearts,” says Jiří Halousek, Sales Manager at Bentley Prague. “The craftsmanship and attention to detail of the Mulliner team is everything we could have hoped for — and more.”

A Tribute Forged in Heritage

There’s deep symbolism here. The Crewe factory, where these Bentleys are built, began life in 1938 as a “shadow factory,” producing the Merlin V12 aero engine — the powerplant that gave life to the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters flown by many of the same Czech pilots this collection now commemorates.

Each car bears laser-etched squadron insignia on its headrests — a Mulliner innovation — while custom treadplates feature the silhouettes of each squadron’s aircraft and its historic motto. Inside, the Bentley Rotating Display gains bespoke dial bezels finished in St. James’ Red, Beluga, or Signal Yellow, echoing the livery of the original wartime aircraft.

Continental GT Convertible: Squadron 310 – “We Fight to Rebuild”

The first in the lineup, the Czech Collection Continental GT Convertible, honors Squadron 310, the first Czech-manned RAF fighter squadron. Cloaked in a Thunder paint finish — a steely blue evoking the Spitfire’s camouflage — and complemented by Blackline Specification and 22-inch wheels in Thunder and Grey, it radiates a purposeful stance.

Inside, the cabin is a masterclass in tone and texture: Cognac main hide, Imperial Blue secondary, and Brunel accents meet herringbone charcoal tweed seatbacks and door panels. The bright tint engine spin fascia continues the mechanical theme, while treadplates proudly bear the Spitfire’s outline and the squadron’s defiant motto.

Bentayga: Squadron 311 – “Never Regard Their Numbers”

If the Continental GT Convertible embodies elegance, the Czech Collection Bentayga channels resilience. Squadron 311, the RAF’s only Czech-manned bomber unit, flew Wellington and B-24 Liberator aircraft — both immortalized on the Bentayga’s front and rear treadplates.

Finished in Cypress Green with black painted wheels and Mulliner’s Blackline Specification, it exudes a hushed power. Inside, Autumn and Cumbrian Green hides evoke the earthy hues of military cockpits, while the dark tint diamond-brushed aluminium fascia adds an edge of technical precision.

Continental GT: Squadron 312 – “Not Many, But Much”

The Czech Collection Continental GT draws inspiration from Squadron 312’s Spitfire fighters. Its Barnato Green finish — a color rooted in Bentley lore — pairs with 22-inch ten-spoke wheels and Blackline trim to create a visual stealth fighter for the road.

Inside, Beluga and Anthracite hides provide a dark, cocooning base, accented by flashes of Fern Green on key touchpoints. The dark tint engine spin fascia and herringbone tweed inserts highlight Mulliner’s obsession with tactile detail. It’s a cabin that feels less like a cockpit and more like a private officer’s quarters.

Flying Spur: Squadron 313 – “One Hawk Chases Many Crows”

Completing the quartet, the Czech Collection Flying Spur pays tribute to Squadron 313, the last of the Czech squadrons formed during the war. Dressed in a refined two-tone Cypress over Anthracite, it’s an understated statement of luxury and remembrance.

The four-seat cabin is a study in contrast and craftsmanship: Gondola Green main hide, Gravity Grey secondary, and Beluga accents merge with open-pore Black Stained Crown Cut Walnut veneers for a tactile, organic feel. The treadplates depict the Spitfire once again, paired with the squadron’s poetic motto.

From War Machines to Works of Art

What makes this collection truly special isn’t just its bespoke nature — Mulliner commissions are, by definition, one-of-a-kind — but its emotional gravity. The Czech Squadron Collection reconnects Bentley’s modern artisans in Crewe with the engine builders who once powered victory in the skies.

In 1946, when Crewe shifted from producing Merlin engines to Bentleys, the first car to roll off the line was the Bentley Mk VI — a machine that marked a transition from war to peace. Nearly eight decades later, that same spirit endures in this quartet of hand-built grand tourers and SUVs, each representing not just a squadron, but a shared legacy of engineering excellence, bravery, and resilience.

Bentley Prague’s Czech Squadron Collection stands as more than just a celebration of craftsmanship — it’s a rolling monument to courage. And in true Bentley fashion, it reminds us that while machines may evolve from engines of war to symbols of peace, the human stories that power them never fade.

Source: Bentley

News

Hyundai stops producing manual gearbox in Czech Republic

With the development of electromobility, manual transmissions are slowly becoming a thing of the past, and only a few manufacturers offer them as an option. After recently announcing that it was discontinuing the N line (models with internal combustion engines) in favor of electric versions, Hyundai has announced that it will stop producing the manual gearbox at its factory in Nošovice, Czech Republic.

Reduced demand for Hyundai models with manual transmission was the reason for the Korean manufacturer to make this decision. As a reminder, in 2008, the share of cars with manual transmission in production reached 90 percent, while in 2023 it dropped to 24 percent. Hyundai produced more than 186,000 manual transmissions in Nošovice last year (15 percent less than in 2022). This does not mean that their use will stop completely, because Hyundai will deliver them to Europe from Asia. On the other hand, there is a growing interest in models without CO2 emissions, and this is another factor that makes the automatic transmission indispensable in sales.

The factory in Nošovice is one of the most successful foreign investments in Czech industry. In this plant, Hyundai produces the Hyundai i30, Tucson and Kona Electric models. Last year, 340,500 new cars left this factory, showing how important it is to Hyundai. About 72 percent of that figure was the Tucson model, while the i30 and Kona Electric made up 13 percent of production each, and the i30 N hot-hatch made up the remaining two percent.

Source: Hyundai