An icon reimagined: the playful Felicia Fun

What if one of Škoda’s most original models were redesigned in the Modern Solid style? Škoda Auto’s designers have once again drawn inspiration from the brand’s rich history to create a contemporary interpretation of the legendary car. In line with the company’s current design language, they have developed a fresh vision of the Felicia Fun pick-up.

28. 8. 2025 Škoda World

While Škoda’s history is filled with practical cars, it has also produced a number of cars purely for enjoyment. One of the most distinctive and truly original ones is the Felicia Fun pick-up truck, which followed earlier concepts such as the Favorit 781 Tremp and Favorit Fun. Unlike its predecessors, however, it took the “beach Škoda” idea all the way to series production.

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.“

The result was a cult automobile—one of the most unconventional production cars Škoda’s ever built. Now, French designer Julien Petitseigneur has envisioned how the Felicia Fun might look today through the lens of Modern Solid.

“The original car was pure fun. It didn’t take itself seriously and stood out, even by Škoda standards. For a light-hearted side project in my spare time, it was an obvious choice,” says the French designer explaining his choice. “I even got so immersed that I started thinking about buying the original,” he laughs.

Fun meets realism

Julien approached his study with a realistic mindset, avoiding any over-the-top exaggeration of the original’s eccentric side. In fact, at the stage he developed his vision, it was not possible to include the electrically sliding rear partition or the second row of seats—signature features of the original model. While the concept could certainly accommodate them, his priority when sketching was to capture the “cool beach vibe” in a form that would fit naturally within Škoda’s current line-up.

Felicia Fun

The unusual Felicia Fun pick-up was produced by Škoda Auto at its Kvasiny plant from 1997 to 2000. Based on the standard Felicia pick-up truck, it featured several unique elements. Most notable was the sliding rear partition behind the front seats, which, when moved into the cargo bed, created space for two additional open-air seats that could be covered with a canvas roof. The model also sported a distinctive spoiler on the tailgate. While available in three colour combinations, all bodies were painted yellow - customers could only choose between yellow, green, or orange for the bumpers, fender trims, side sills, spoiler, and other details. With just 4,216 units built, it remains one of Škoda’s rarest modern models.

Julien’s Modern Solid Felicia Fun features a front end clearly inspired by the brand’s current EVs and, in particular, the Vision 7S concept. The Tech-Deck Face grille is paired with slim T-shaped LED headlights, a motif repeated at the rear, where Julien added a playful twist: pink taillights with a 1990s-style LED light bar linking them. The pink colour also appears in the logo, window tinting, wheel accents, and bumper details. “It’s exactly what gives the car that 1990s beach atmosphere vibe,” Julien notes.

The proportions, however, are entirely modern—wide stance, large wheels with aerodynamic covers, and contrasting black bumpers, wheel arches, and sills. The spoiler and front pillars match this black finish, providing a striking contrast to the signature yellow bodywork, which was an essential part of the original’s identity. “The proportions and tougher detailing are the key Modern Solid elements of my design,” says Julien, adding that adapting the 1990s car to the new design language was surprisingly straightforward. “Cars from that era had simple shapes and minimal ornamentation, so updating the look was relatively easy.”

Inside, the design nods to the original’s era with a full-width dashboard display featuring retro video game graphics. Julien even imagined it not as a typical LCD or OLED screen, but as a modern reinterpretation of old CRT monitors.

An AI-assisted creative exercise

Julien also used modern tools to bring his retro-modern vision to life. “I saw it as an opportunity to experiment with AI tools,” he explains, adding some details. “I researched the car, then tested different prompts and tweaked them in AI to create initial concepts that captured the spirit of the original. This allowed me to explore possible directions quickly and decide how to proceed.”

Once satisfied with the AI-generated brainstorming results, Julien developed the details by hand: “AI outputs are always quite rough—more like outlines. I applied my own style to the chosen concept and refined it thoroughly” he explains.

Even with AI speeding up the early stages, he still devoted many hours to the project: “I worked for about two weeks, roughly three hours each evening after work,” he recalls. “Compared to a typical project that takes years to complete, it’s a short timeframe, but I learned a lot and found it relaxing in its own way. After all, the Felicia Fun was always a car for leisure” adds Julien.

Julien Petitseigneur

Interior designer Julien Petitseigneur has dreamed of working in automotive design for as long as he can remember. “I was sketching cars from early childhood,” he smiles. “Back in primary school, I didn’t even realise it could be a real job.” That passion never faded. After high school he enrolled at a design-focused university in his native France, where he discovered the world of interior automotive design – and was instantly fascinated. He has stayed in this field ever since. Julien joined Škoda Auto during the rise of the brand’s crystalline design language, helping to shape its strong visual identity. “It was an exciting period when I felt I could really contribute to the brand’s growth,” he recalls. Looking ahead, the upcoming Vision O concept – which he has been working on – will showcase the next step in Škoda’s evolving design philosophy, marking another milestone in a continuous journey.