Skoda reimagines Felicia Fun for 2025
New concept combines cult classic pick up with new Modern Solid design language
There have been a good few fan favourite Škodas over the years, from the diesel Fabia vRS to the VR6-powered Superb. Arguably none, however, have quite captured the buying public’s imagination - or channelled the zeitgeist of a time - like the Felicia Fun pick-up. More than 4,000 were sold at the end of the '90s, doing exactly as they said on the tin: it was impossible not to have a good time in a Felicia truck. As if the late 20th century couldn’t look good enough. It was bright yellow, it had yellow wheels, your friends could go in the back and the press pics looked like the best party ever. Of course the Felica Fun was enormous fun.
Now it has been ‘Fun-damentally reimagined’ (see what they did there) by Škoda and French designer Julien Petitseigneur, resurrecting the Skoda pick up idea with a few contemporary details in line with its new Modern Solid design language. ‘Its clean surfaces and bold proportions reflect Škoda’s new direction, while subtle retro touches preserve the carefree character of the original’, reckons Škoda. So the front end gets a similar treatment to that seen on the new Enyaq and Elroq, including the Tech-Deck Face grille, and the back of the truck gets a light bar all the way across the rump where. Because no car or truck is complete in 2025 without a light bar.
Note the colour emitted, though - it’s pink, rather than red, a theme that continues throughout the car. There are also pink wheel highlights and glass tints ‘to further reinforce the car’s playful, beachside feel.’ It feels very in keeping with the original feel of the Felicia Fun. As does a full width dash display with retro video game graphics. Indeed the only thing that seems a bit out of sorts is that the new concept is two-seat only, without chairs in the load bay this time around - pity.
Petitseigneur said of the concept: “The original car was pure fun – it didn’t take itself too seriously, and it stood out in a way that few other Škodas ever have. For me, it was the obvious choice to reimagine in my spare time. I even found myself looking at buying an original while working on the sketches.” There’s no suggestion that this new vision will make it to production, though it would be a welcome bit of fun in quite an earnest Škoda lineup. Apparently the concept’s proportions ‘would allow’ for the extra pair of seats out back ‘in a production-ready model’, so perhaps there’s some hope. Lifestyle EVs seem to be all the rage right now, after all - imagine turning up to the group hike in this.
I still think the world would be a nicer place if they made it, even though they probably won't. Smallish angry cars that are a bit different from the norm are much to encouraged. The styling makes it look a very different proposition to the very laid back original, though.
I've never even been a passenger in an EV, let alone driven one, but I enjoy driving so I'll find the fun in them somewhere when the need arises.
However, this photo really really makes me question Skoda's production quality control! Although in fairness the bloke does indeed look to be having lots of fun...
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