Skoda is experiencing a wave of revivalism, and after presenting a modern concept of the Laurin & Klement Slavia B motorcycle from 1899 at the beginning of the month, it is now time to recover another brilliant page from the history of the Czech brand and introduce the Concept Favorit, inspired by the model of the same name that was the last developed by Skoda before the Volkswagen Group took control of the Mladá Boleslav brand in 1991.
The Felicia hatchback, a model designed by Bertone, was a five-door vehicle that featured a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 63 hp, which Skoda exported to various countries.
The concept now revealed is a 100% electric model and has not yet gone beyond the digital realm; however, the released images show that it features a design language known as Modern Solid, which is part of the brand’s most recent models.
Designer Ljudmil Slavov, who took on the task of reviving the legendary Favorit, created a striking and modern interpretation, capturing the spirit of innovation that defined the original.
The front section seems to diverge from Skoda’s current design language, but it perfectly incorporates the essence of Modern Solid. One of the highlights is the design of the headlights, a clever reference to the original model.
“I didn’t want to rely on current design elements, like the Tech-Deck face,” explained Slavov. “This is a tribute to the Favorit, so I carefully studied the original details and tried to evolve and elevate them. Simplifying an already minimalist shape to the Modern Solid style was really challenging.”, said Slavov.
In the late 1980s, the acclaimed design house Bertone struggled to integrate the large mass-produced headlights from the former Czechoslovakia at the time. Despite their size, these headlights needed to be perfectly integrated into the car’s design.
Maintaining that tradition, Slavov invested heavily in reworking the current headlights. The solution involves ultra-thin LED strips at the front and rear, installed behind semi-transparent covers that reflect the size and volume of the original bulbs. “These covers allow the lights to project different patterns, which owners can customize”, Slavov noted.
Despite the spectacular nature of this modern and electric Felicia, Skoda has already announced that it is merely a design exercise, intended to show that the future of the Czech brand is deeply rooted in the rich past of the Mladá Boleslav house.
However, it would not be surprising if this concept Flavia becomes the starting point for a future electric model from Skoda, a “sibling” of the VW ID.2.
