Latest news with #ModernSolid


The Independent
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Skoda Elroq Review: Affordable Electric SUV with Space and Style
Showing now | Drive Smart 09:54 Steve Fowler Discover the all-new Skoda Elroq, Skoda's latest compact electric SUV that combines affordability, comfort, and modern design. Steve Fowler highlights the Elroq's spacious interior, user-friendly features, and the brand's new 'Modern Solid' design language. Learn how the Elroq stands out in the competitive EV market, offering a compelling alternative to its larger sibling, the Enyaq, and other electric SUVs. Watch more from Drive Smart on Independent TV.


NZ Autocar
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
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.


The Irish Sun
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major car brand reveals dramatically redesigned hatchback – 30 years after it was pulled from sale
SKODA has shown off a radical, retro-futurist look for the classic Favorit hatchback - a beloved motor that ran from 1987 to 1995. The Volkswagen-owned marque says they've 'drawn inspiration from the brand's rich history to create a modern interpretation' of the little motor, which was once a regular on UK roads. Advertisement 4 The redesigned Skoda Favorit pays homage to its 1980s roots Credit: Skoda 4 Designer Ljudmil Slavov spent 120 hours crafting this updated classic, retaining the essence of the original with a sleek, modern twist Credit: Skoda 4 It features asymmetrical badging, slim LED lights, and ultra-simplistic four-spoke wheels Credit: Skoda 4 The original Favorit was a beloved hatchback that was once a common sight on UK roads with over 50,000 units sold Credit: Skoda Indeed, some 50,000 units sold in the UK in a six-year run, although a report from MSN found that just 232 were still on the road by December 2016 and were disappearing fast, according to a report by This re-design imagines the Favorit as a modern EV but still manages to capture the essence of the original - thanks to the handiwork of designer Ljudmil Slavov. Skoda says he spent some 120 hours of his own time to work on the project - with a view to retaining the feel of the 1980s hatchback. He said: 'From today's perspective, I think the Favorit was already a kind of Modern Solid. Advertisement Read more Motors News 'It was technically and visually a simple car meant for the general public.' He also wanted to attempt something that went against the grain on today's general look and feel. 'I wanted to update the original idea for today, when various SUVs are popular,' said Slavov. He added: 'I sketched many versions, searched for the ideal shape of the grille and headlights, tried different perspectives and consulted a lot with colleagues.' Advertisement Most read in Motors His design for the Favorit is clean and simple while containing some iconic elements of the original model, along with some interesting touches. These include an asymmetrical badge, a single door handle embedded into the body for both the front and rear, ultra-simplistic four-spoke wheels, illuminated 'Skoda' badging at the rear, as well as slim LED lights all round. Power-packed Skoda Octavia vRS is perfect combo of performance & practicality However, fans will have to use their imaginations for the car's interior, although the seats' headrests reference the open-centred items on the original Favorit. Slavov also designed a rally version - inspired by the Favorit that found success in the World Rally Championship's second-tier class in the early 1990s. Advertisement This version of the Favorit joins a series of reimaginings by Skoda's designers, which has recently shown new takes on the 1203 van, Voiturette A, Felica Cabriolet, 130RS and Popular Monte Carlo.


Scottish Sun
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Major car brand reveals dramatically redesigned hatchback – 30 years after it was pulled from sale
'It was technically and visually a simple car meant for the general public" NEW LOOK Major car brand reveals dramatically redesigned hatchback – 30 years after it was pulled from sale SKODA has shown off a radical, retro-futurist look for the classic Favorit hatchback - a beloved motor that ran from 1987 to 1995. The Volkswagen-owned marque says they've 'drawn inspiration from the brand's rich history to create a modern interpretation' of the little motor, which was once a regular on UK roads. 4 The redesigned Skoda Favorit pays homage to its 1980s roots Credit: Skoda 4 Designer Ljudmil Slavov spent 120 hours crafting this updated classic, retaining the essence of the original with a sleek, modern twist Credit: Skoda 4 It features asymmetrical badging, slim LED lights, and ultra-simplistic four-spoke wheels Credit: Skoda 4 The original Favorit was a beloved hatchback that was once a common sight on UK roads with over 50,000 units sold Credit: Skoda Indeed, some 50,000 units sold in the UK in a six-year run, although a report from MSN found that just 232 were still on the road by December 2016 and were disappearing fast, according to a report by MSN. This re-design imagines the Favorit as a modern EV but still manages to capture the essence of the original - thanks to the handiwork of designer Ljudmil Slavov. Skoda says he spent some 120 hours of his own time to work on the project - with a view to retaining the feel of the 1980s hatchback. He said: 'From today's perspective, I think the Favorit was already a kind of Modern Solid. 'It was technically and visually a simple car meant for the general public.' He also wanted to attempt something that went against the grain on today's general look and feel. 'I wanted to update the original idea for today, when various SUVs are popular,' said Slavov. He added: 'I sketched many versions, searched for the ideal shape of the grille and headlights, tried different perspectives and consulted a lot with colleagues.' His design for the Favorit is clean and simple while containing some iconic elements of the original model, along with some interesting touches. These include an asymmetrical badge, a single door handle embedded into the body for both the front and rear, ultra-simplistic four-spoke wheels, illuminated 'Skoda' badging at the rear, as well as slim LED lights all round. Power-packed Skoda Octavia vRS is perfect combo of performance & practicality However, fans will have to use their imaginations for the car's interior, although the seats' headrests reference the open-centred items on the original Favorit. Slavov also designed a rally version - inspired by the Favorit that found success in the World Rally Championship's second-tier class in the early 1990s. This version of the Favorit joins a series of reimaginings by Skoda's designers, which has recently shown new takes on the 1203 van, Voiturette A, Felica Cabriolet, 130RS and Popular Monte Carlo.


The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Skoda Favorit: Communist-era hatch reimagined as an affordable EV
The Skoda Favorit broke new ground when it debuted back in 1987, bringing modern Western Europe design to those living in the communist east, and now it's back as an EV concept. The Skoda Favorit concept was designed by Ljudmil Slavov, an interior designer at the Czech automaker, and David Stingl, a 3D modeller at Skoda. Mr Slavov says he used 120 hours of his own time to reimagine the Favorit as a modern EV. He describes the concept as more of a "crossover than a pure hatchback" with a "higher body structure [that] allows for better battery placement in the floor". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The doors, bonnet strakes, and overall silhouette clearly recall the original five-door hatch, but there are modern touches, like the shared door handle scoop that can open either the front or rear doors. Although the Favorit concept's body surfacing is patterned on Skoda's new Modern Solid design language, the concept doesn't adopt all the elements from the styling book. For example, the concept's front end eschews the corporate "tech-deck face" for a new take on the original's headlights. Mind you, with its offset logo, missing grille, and angled bumper planes, the nose also seems heavily inspired by "droop snoot" Vauxhall Firenza HP from the mid-1970s. It's unclear, though, if the Favorit concept will be put into production. At the end of 2023 Skoda previewed a small EV hatch it had planned for the end of 2025, and that car looks more like an Elroq than a Favorit. The original Favorit was the last family of cars designed by Skoda when it was still fully owned by the communist government of Czechoslovakia. Launched in 1987 it was one of the most up-to-date vehicles ever sold behind the Iron Curtain. Penned by famed Italian car designer Nuccio Bertone, the Favorit had a modern front-wheel drive layout and a hatchback body, unlike its predecessor which was a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive sedan that traced its roots back to the 1960s. It was powered by a 46kW 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine mated to solely to a five-speed manual transmission. Compared to contemporary Ladas, FSMs, and Trabants of the time, the Favorit could've been a spaceship. Production of the Favorit ceased in 1994 when it was replaced by the Felicia. Although it was basically a heavily updated Favorit, the Felicia benefited from Volkswagen engines as the German firm had taken a minor stake in the company. In 2000 Volkswagen made Skoda a fully owned subsidiary. MORE: Everything Skoda Content originally sourced from: The Skoda Favorit broke new ground when it debuted back in 1987, bringing modern Western Europe design to those living in the communist east, and now it's back as an EV concept. The Skoda Favorit concept was designed by Ljudmil Slavov, an interior designer at the Czech automaker, and David Stingl, a 3D modeller at Skoda. Mr Slavov says he used 120 hours of his own time to reimagine the Favorit as a modern EV. He describes the concept as more of a "crossover than a pure hatchback" with a "higher body structure [that] allows for better battery placement in the floor". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The doors, bonnet strakes, and overall silhouette clearly recall the original five-door hatch, but there are modern touches, like the shared door handle scoop that can open either the front or rear doors. Although the Favorit concept's body surfacing is patterned on Skoda's new Modern Solid design language, the concept doesn't adopt all the elements from the styling book. For example, the concept's front end eschews the corporate "tech-deck face" for a new take on the original's headlights. Mind you, with its offset logo, missing grille, and angled bumper planes, the nose also seems heavily inspired by "droop snoot" Vauxhall Firenza HP from the mid-1970s. It's unclear, though, if the Favorit concept will be put into production. At the end of 2023 Skoda previewed a small EV hatch it had planned for the end of 2025, and that car looks more like an Elroq than a Favorit. The original Favorit was the last family of cars designed by Skoda when it was still fully owned by the communist government of Czechoslovakia. Launched in 1987 it was one of the most up-to-date vehicles ever sold behind the Iron Curtain. Penned by famed Italian car designer Nuccio Bertone, the Favorit had a modern front-wheel drive layout and a hatchback body, unlike its predecessor which was a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive sedan that traced its roots back to the 1960s. It was powered by a 46kW 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine mated to solely to a five-speed manual transmission. Compared to contemporary Ladas, FSMs, and Trabants of the time, the Favorit could've been a spaceship. Production of the Favorit ceased in 1994 when it was replaced by the Felicia. Although it was basically a heavily updated Favorit, the Felicia benefited from Volkswagen engines as the German firm had taken a minor stake in the company. In 2000 Volkswagen made Skoda a fully owned subsidiary. MORE: Everything Skoda Content originally sourced from: The Skoda Favorit broke new ground when it debuted back in 1987, bringing modern Western Europe design to those living in the communist east, and now it's back as an EV concept. The Skoda Favorit concept was designed by Ljudmil Slavov, an interior designer at the Czech automaker, and David Stingl, a 3D modeller at Skoda. Mr Slavov says he used 120 hours of his own time to reimagine the Favorit as a modern EV. He describes the concept as more of a "crossover than a pure hatchback" with a "higher body structure [that] allows for better battery placement in the floor". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The doors, bonnet strakes, and overall silhouette clearly recall the original five-door hatch, but there are modern touches, like the shared door handle scoop that can open either the front or rear doors. Although the Favorit concept's body surfacing is patterned on Skoda's new Modern Solid design language, the concept doesn't adopt all the elements from the styling book. For example, the concept's front end eschews the corporate "tech-deck face" for a new take on the original's headlights. Mind you, with its offset logo, missing grille, and angled bumper planes, the nose also seems heavily inspired by "droop snoot" Vauxhall Firenza HP from the mid-1970s. It's unclear, though, if the Favorit concept will be put into production. At the end of 2023 Skoda previewed a small EV hatch it had planned for the end of 2025, and that car looks more like an Elroq than a Favorit. The original Favorit was the last family of cars designed by Skoda when it was still fully owned by the communist government of Czechoslovakia. Launched in 1987 it was one of the most up-to-date vehicles ever sold behind the Iron Curtain. Penned by famed Italian car designer Nuccio Bertone, the Favorit had a modern front-wheel drive layout and a hatchback body, unlike its predecessor which was a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive sedan that traced its roots back to the 1960s. It was powered by a 46kW 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine mated to solely to a five-speed manual transmission. Compared to contemporary Ladas, FSMs, and Trabants of the time, the Favorit could've been a spaceship. Production of the Favorit ceased in 1994 when it was replaced by the Felicia. Although it was basically a heavily updated Favorit, the Felicia benefited from Volkswagen engines as the German firm had taken a minor stake in the company. In 2000 Volkswagen made Skoda a fully owned subsidiary. MORE: Everything Skoda Content originally sourced from: The Skoda Favorit broke new ground when it debuted back in 1987, bringing modern Western Europe design to those living in the communist east, and now it's back as an EV concept. The Skoda Favorit concept was designed by Ljudmil Slavov, an interior designer at the Czech automaker, and David Stingl, a 3D modeller at Skoda. Mr Slavov says he used 120 hours of his own time to reimagine the Favorit as a modern EV. He describes the concept as more of a "crossover than a pure hatchback" with a "higher body structure [that] allows for better battery placement in the floor". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The doors, bonnet strakes, and overall silhouette clearly recall the original five-door hatch, but there are modern touches, like the shared door handle scoop that can open either the front or rear doors. Although the Favorit concept's body surfacing is patterned on Skoda's new Modern Solid design language, the concept doesn't adopt all the elements from the styling book. For example, the concept's front end eschews the corporate "tech-deck face" for a new take on the original's headlights. Mind you, with its offset logo, missing grille, and angled bumper planes, the nose also seems heavily inspired by "droop snoot" Vauxhall Firenza HP from the mid-1970s. It's unclear, though, if the Favorit concept will be put into production. At the end of 2023 Skoda previewed a small EV hatch it had planned for the end of 2025, and that car looks more like an Elroq than a Favorit. The original Favorit was the last family of cars designed by Skoda when it was still fully owned by the communist government of Czechoslovakia. Launched in 1987 it was one of the most up-to-date vehicles ever sold behind the Iron Curtain. Penned by famed Italian car designer Nuccio Bertone, the Favorit had a modern front-wheel drive layout and a hatchback body, unlike its predecessor which was a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive sedan that traced its roots back to the 1960s. It was powered by a 46kW 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine mated to solely to a five-speed manual transmission. Compared to contemporary Ladas, FSMs, and Trabants of the time, the Favorit could've been a spaceship. Production of the Favorit ceased in 1994 when it was replaced by the Felicia. Although it was basically a heavily updated Favorit, the Felicia benefited from Volkswagen engines as the German firm had taken a minor stake in the company. In 2000 Volkswagen made Skoda a fully owned subsidiary. MORE: Everything Skoda Content originally sourced from: