The Skoda Favorit Is Back—And It’s Nothing Like You Remember

The original Skoda Favorit, penned by Italian design house Bertone, was a big moment for the brand when it launched back in 1987. It was modern, practical, and a major step up for Skoda, helping shape its identity in the years leading up to Volkswagen ownership. Now, in 2025, the Favorit name returns, reimagined as an electric concept that nods to the past while embracing an entirely new future.

The new Favorit concept pulls from Skoda’s “Modern Solid” design language, but with its twist. It’s chunkier, more upright, and sized more like a compact crossover than the boxy hatchback it once was—because let’s face it, today’s buyers love a bit of extra ride height. Despite the shift in proportions, the concept keeps some of that original Favorit charm through clever design details.

One of the most interesting choices? The door handles. Rather than separate handles for the front and rear doors, Skoda’s designers created a single, integrated opening—clean, minimal, and a little bit futuristic. The lighting is equally sleek, with razor-thin LED strips at both ends, tucked behind translucent panels. According to designer David Stingl, those panels could even retract when the lights are in use. It’s the kind of small, imaginative touch that makes concept cars so fun.

Around back, the illuminated Skoda badge and glassy taillight treatment give the car a tech-forward look, while sharp lines and subtle surfacing bring a seriousness that contrasts nicely with the playful proportions. Skoda even envisioned a racing-style version, complete with beefy plastic cladding and more aggressive detailing.

This time, the Skoda Favorit is all electric. Designer Ljudmil Slavov said he imagined the new Favorit as an EV from the start. That’s a huge leap from the original, which ran on a 1.3-liter four-cylinder making barely more than 60 horsepower. With instant torque and a low center of gravity, the modern Favorit could be more than just a design study. It could be a genuinely exciting small performance EV.

Whether or not it reaches production, the new Favorit concept makes a strong case for how legacy names can be reinterpreted without being stuck in the past.