Skoda’s former Favorit gets a modern makeover

Skoda has reimagined the Favorit as a modern electric car. The designer used the original’s Bertone-penned lines as inspiration for new Modern Solid styling.

Conceived by designer Ljudmil Slavov in his own time, the project aimed to retain the feel of the original without going too retro. The ’87 Favorit was developed behind the iron curtain before VW took ownership.

“I wanted to update the original idea for today” with some SUV cues, he said. 

“A higher body structure allows for better battery placement in the floor”.

Unusual features include an asymmetrical badge, a single door handle embedded into the body for both the front and rear, and simple four-spoke wheels. The lack of a grille betrays the Favorit’s electric powertrain. 

There’s no gloss-black Tech Deck face here. Instead Slavov decided to “evolve and elevate” the “already minimalistic” features of the Favorit. He commented that this “was very challenging”.

It took many sketches and much dialogue with colleagues, said Slavov. 

The shapes of the front and rear lights are retained from the original, comprising LED running lights while covers hide the headlamps. The accents in the Skoda wordmarks front and rear are also illuminated.

The simple shape of the wheel inners means they aren’t the focal point here.

Seat headrests reference the open-centred items on the original Favorit. Brown leather upholstery references the fashion of the late 1980s.

Slavov also penned a rally version inspired by the Favorit that found success in the WRC F2 class during the early 1990s.

This has a lower, wider stance and unpainted plastic bumpers, along with a white, green and red livery. It also has a spoiler, diffuser and roll cage.

For the moment, there are no plans to put either into production.