Skoda reimagines the Felicia Fun with modern design

Skoda has revisited one of its quirkiest models and given it a bold, playful twist. The Felicia Fun, a cult favourite from the late 1990s, has been reimagined through the brand’s modern solid design language as part of its “Icons Get a Makeover” series.

A cult classic

Produced between 1997 and 2000, the original Felicia Fun stood out for its vibrant yellow paint, sliding rear partition, and open-air rear seats, turning a modest pickup into a ute vehicle unlike anything else on the road. With just over 4,000 units built, it remains one of Skoda’s rarest modern models.

French designer Julien Petitseingneur, who has worked on several of Skoda’s recent design projects, took on the task of reinventing the icon. “The original car was pure fun. It didn’t take itself seriously and stood out, even by Skoda standards,” he explained.

Retro meets modern solid

The new vision blends familiar elements with a modern stance. A front end inspired by the Vision 7S concept features the Tech-Deck Face grille and slim T-shaped LED headlights. At the rear, a 1990s nod appears in the form of pink taillights linked by a full-width light bar. Pink detailing also extends to the logo, window tints, and wheel accents, reinforcing the carefree “beach car” vibe.

The proportions, however, are entirely modern: a wide stance, large aerodynamic wheels, and contrasting black cladding that set off the iconic yellow bodywork. Inside, Julien added another retro flourish with a full-width dashboard display styled to look like old CRT monitors playing vintage video games.

Blending AI and passion

Julien experimented with AI tools to explore directions for the redesign before sketching and refining the details by hand. The side project took around two weeks of evening work. “Compared to projects that take years, this was short, but I learned a lot and found it relaxing. After all, the Felicia Fun was always a care for leisure,” he said. 

Not for production, but a statement

Skoda stresses that the Felicia Fun reinterpretation is not intended as a production model. Instead, it serves as a tribute to the brand’s creativity and heritage, and a showcase of how modern tools and design language can breathe new life into classic icons.