Škoda Favorit comes back as a concept electric car
The Škoda Favorit from the 1980s makes a comeback as a concept electric car with a smiling front design and headlights that project different patterns. As part of the Icons Get a Makeover series, the concept model is one of the Škoda vehicles that goes through a refresh, one that retains the history while keeping all things modern. For a brief history, the Škoda Favorit hatchback came out in 1987, designed by Bertone. It was built for the streets and roads around the Eastern Bloc, a homage as well to the company’s headquarters in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic.
Back then, it had a 1.3-liter engine and could run between 40 and 50 kW. It was in production up until 1994, when the Felicia model replaced it. Fast forward to 2025, Škoda taps designers Ljudmil Slavov and David Stingl to revive the Škoda Favorit, bringing it back as a concept and modern electric car. The design is a crossover between an SUV and a hatchback. It has a higher body structure, so there’s more space for the battery placement in the floor. Ljudmil Slavov says that he finds it challenging to simplify the already minimalistic shapes by Bertone. Instead of changing that, he evolves and expands them, making the overall frame and look modern rather than retro.
all images courtesy of Škoda, Ljudmil Slavov, David Stingl
Animated headlights with foldable covers
Škoda Favorit electric car’s face steers away a bit from the typical vehicle faces manufactured by the company. It’s an intention by the designer Ljudmil Slavov, adding that because of this, he’s able to maintain the Modern Solid style designed by Bertone for the original model from the 1980s. He has collaborated with his colleague David Stingl for the 3D sketches. His task is to give the Škoda Favorit electric car ‘volumetric proportions, shapes, and design elements so the result looks almost like a finished product with a Modern Solid expression,’ he says.
The result includes a shared handle for the doors, split in the middle so they open in different directions. There are also pairs of simpler wheels, with an embedded look and four sections resembling a fan. Then, the headlights. They reference the original model, but this time, the LED lights at the front and rear of the Škoda Favorit electric car can project different patterns, customized by the owner. They’re also framed by partially translucent covers, and their covers could be foldable, too. Because of these headlights, the face of the concept vehicle seems to smile. So far, the revived Škoda Favorit is a concept electric car. Aside from this, the design team has also conceived a racing concept vehicle inspired by the Favorit’s rally heritage and with prominent bumpers made of soft-touch material.
left: Modern Solid Favorit by Bertone; right: modern Favorit by Ljudmil Slavov and David Stingl
as part of the Icons Get a Makeover, the concept model is one of the Škoda vehicles that goes through a refresh
the design is a crossover between an SUV and a hatchback
there’s a shared handle for the doors, split in the middle so they open in different directions
Ljudmil Slavov (left) and David Stingl (right9, and their Škoda Favorit design behind them
original model of the vehicle, designed by Bertone
the Škoda Favorit hatchback came out in 1987
project info:
name: Favorit
company: Škoda | @skodagram
designers: Ljudmil Slavov, David Stingl | @lsd__esign, @davidstingl
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: matthew burgos | designboom
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