Skoda puts fun back into the ute sector

Literally, for this ute concept is known as Felicia Fun. It pays homage to the original built between 1998 and 2000. That car didn’t take itself too seriously and this latest example doesn’t either, according to designer Julien Petitseigneur. 

The modern version of the cult classic lives again as an electric 4×4 fit for beach use. Starting out as the Vision 7S concept vehicle, an open bed replaces its second and third rows of seats. Up front is the Tech Deck fascia of modern Skodas.

There is a small rear spoiler, similar to that fitted on the original Felicia Fun. Rear lights are pink tinged in reference to the car’s seaside inspiration. Though quite how pink ties in with the beach is a bit of a mystery, unless Skoda is referencing sunburn? 

The occasional second-row seats that became a signature feature of the original Felicia Fun do not reappear here. However, Skoda reckons that the new concept has room for them.

Cabinside, there’s a digital display that spans the entire width of the dashboard, similar to a Mercedes Hyperscreen. The housing reminds of bulky cathode ray tube computer monitors from that era. Graphics are similarly old school, akin to those of Windows 95.

The designer commented: “The original car was pure fun. It didn’t take itself seriously and stood out, even by Skoda standards.” 

Back before 2000, Skoda built just over 4200 examples of the Felicia Fun, each painted in bright colours with daisy-like alloy wheels. The car’s exterior cladding was available in yellow, green or orange.

The Felicia Fun pick-up concept is the latest in a series of classic Skoda models reimagined by its designers, the first being the Favorit.

That car retained the original’s Bertone lines without being too obviously retro.

Unlike the Felicia Fun concept, the reborn Favorit did not adopt the brand’s ‘Tech Deck’ front fascia, instead remaining closer to its forebear.