An icon reimagined: the futuristic yet practical Škoda 1000 MBX

What if one of Škoda’s rarest production cars was reborn today in the brand’s Modern Solid design language? Inspired by Škoda Auto’s rich heritage, the company’s designers have created modern interpretations of several legendary models — including a surprisingly fun and practical vision of the 1000 MBX coupé.

23. 10. 2025 Škoda World

The Škoda 1000 MBX was a unique coupé produced briefly in the 1960s, radiating the carefree spirit of its time. Its elegant two-door body combined style with everyday usability rather than focusing on pure sportiness. This essence served as inspiration for two Škoda Auto designers, who developed a modern reinterpretation of the MBX coupé.

The series Icons Get a Makeover is a tribute to legendary models from Škoda’s history and a celebration of the creativity of today’s designers. Their reinterpretations of historic vehicles were created exclusively for this series and do not represent any future Škoda models.“

“Our concept is sportier overall, yet, still has a friendly look. Modern sports cars often appear overly aggressive, while those from the ’60s and ’70s carried a certain elegance, even endearing charm — and that’s what I wanted to preserve,” says Antti Savio, responsible for the exterior design. “We wanted to keep the car’s essence — what it represented in its time. It wasn’t a sports machine, but rather an elegant car for an active lifestyle,” adds David Stingl, who was responsible primarily for the interior design.

Translating that spirit into the present day, the Modern Solid-styled Škoda 1000 MBX becomes something of a crossover — though it may not look like one at first glance. David Stingl came up with a distinctive interior layout featuring a 2+2 seating configuration. The flat-floor electric platform, envisioned for this concept, allows the front seats to merge into a wide, comfortable bench, while the two individual rear seats feature cinema-style tip up seats. The design also features rear-hinged doors ensuring excellent cabin access.

Škoda 1000 MBX

The elegant Škoda 1000 MBX coupé was derived from the 1000 MB sedan — Škoda’s first car with a self-supporting body and a revolutionary aluminium engine block produced by pressure casting. The two-door “tudor” variant, featuring frameless doors and no B-pillar, entered production in 1966 as the 1000 MBX with a 988-cc engine delivering 42 hp. A stronger 1100 MBX version followed in 1968, powered by a 1,107-cc engine with 52 hp. Production, with a very limited daily output, ended just a year later, with only 2,517 units built in total — making it one of Škoda’s rarest production models. The 1100 MBX variant remains particularly scarce.

Practical elegance

“Our MBX concept is a 2+2 coupé that can easily transform into a two-seater with remarkable cargo capacity,” explains David. When the rear seats are folded upwards, there’s sufficient space for luggage — or even a bicycle or other sports equipment. “This car should encourage its crew to go exploring without a moment of hesitation. It’s not meant to be just a fun weekend coupé to be a second car in the family, but a vehicle with exceptional everyday usability,” he continues. The concept even features air suspension, allowing the ground clearance to be adjusted: low for a sporty stance, or high for tackling rough paths and easier cargo loading.

David Stingl designed the dashboard as a glass-covered oval module into which images are projected. The oval motif is consistently repeated throughout the interior — visible, for example, on the steering wheel and the distinctive headrests. This concept draws direct inspiration from the original car’s instrument panel design. Like its historic predecessor, the modern 1000 MBX vision has no central console. Chrome accents of the original have been replaced with clean graphic details highlighted by ambient lighting, in line with Škoda’s current Modern Solid design philosophy.

Inspired by Architecture

The same philosophy extends to the exterior. “I’m very fond of product design and brutalist architecture, so while developing this vision I studied several buildings and objects in that style,” says Antti Savio. The result is a concept with bold, confident, and unusual forms that express strength and character.

Though not a retro design, the car still features subtle nods to the original — such as the raised headlamps above the bonnet line, the character crease along the flanks halfway up the sides, and the distinctive C-pillar treatment. “The concept has no conventional rear window, which provides extra luggage space and gives the car a sportier, more compact appearance. A rear-view camera replaces the window,” Antti explains, describing himself as a fan of compact three-box vintage coupés from the ’60s and ’70s.

The pair worked on the 1000 MBX vision for around three to four weeks. „We met at least twice a week to discuss how the interior and exterior should connect, ensuring the design reflected Škoda’s current philosophy,” Antti recalls. Early sketches were literally drawn on scraps of paper — one key idea came to him over a glass of wine in a bar: „I asked the waiter for some paper and a pen and quickly drew the concept, „he laughs. From there, the idea evolved into a 3D digital model.

David, meanwhile, began directly in a 3D environment, his area of expertise. “I started by shaping the architecture of the interior, then moved on to detailing its visual styling,” he says. The result is a striking interior that blends sporty elegance with practicality in an unprecedented way — a true Modern Solid crossover.

Antti Mikael Savio

Exterior designer Antti Mikael Savio comes from Finland but has been working in Mladá Boleslav for around 17 years. “I really love the company and the people here. I’ve grown fond of the brand, the city, and the country,” he says. Drawing cars since childhood, Antti told his mother at age four he would become a car designer — and he made it happen. After studying product design at the Institute of Design and Fine Arts in Lahti, he earned a degree in automotive design from London’s Royal College of Art. Even during his studies, he freelanced for various carmakers, later settling in the Czech Republic. At Škoda, he contributed to projects such as the Vision O concept and designed several alloy wheel collections, one of which even bears his name. “I love cars — especially the classics. I’ve owned 43 so far,” he smiles, describing himself as a true youngtimer enthusiast.

David Stingl

Twenty-four-year-old exterior designer David Stingl studied design at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. He began working in design at the age of 15 as a product designer. He quickly developed a passion for 3D modelling. Thanks to that, he has already been part of the Škoda Auto design team for three years. “This is my first direct experience in an automotive company. I love cars and design, so this job is the realisation of my dreams,” he says. Speaking about his inspiration, he adds: “I love great stories. And design, to me, is like a great story made physical.”