What would happen if Škoda's first "million-dollar" car were reintroduced today, dressed in the avant-garde "Modern Solid" design language? The answer comes in the form of a bold and elegant concept, created by Škoda Auto designers as a tribute to the legendary Škoda 100 model.
Produced between 1969 and 1977, the Škoda 100/110 was a historic milestone for the Czech manufacturer, becoming its first vehicle to surpass the one million-unit mark. Although it was perceived as an affordable car, a true “people’s car,” its cultural significance and popularity inspired a new, radically modernized vision.
The modern concept is part of the virtual series "Icons Get a Makeover" and is the work of designer Martin Paclt, a specialist in exterior design and headlights, with over a decade of experience at Škoda Auto.
Paclt, who remembers the model's popularity from his childhood, had a clear motivation: to work with a car that people know well, but to avoid the trap of retro styling. The goal was not a simple restoration, but to preserve the essence and proportions of the original, while infusing it with a more premium, modern limousine character.
“I was inspired by the proportions of the Superb, and the resulting concept came out a little bigger,” said Paclt. “The Škoda 100 appealed to me with its clean, timeless lines, which resonate strongly with the current Modern Solid design direction.”
The new interpretation retains the classic sedan silhouette, with elegant surfaces and large, uninterrupted volumes. Modern details make subtle references to the classic:
The most unconventional and bold design move is the complete elimination of the rear window. Paclt explains that he was inspired by the almost interchangeable symmetry of the original's front and rear windows. The absence of the rear window transforms the rear surface into a sculptural mirror of the windshield, a gesture that is "sure to evoke emotion—and that's exactly what design should do," the designer notes.
Although it is an exercise in style, Paclt's vision also has a technical logic that validates the design choice. Being conceived as an electric car (EV), the absence of a rear window opened the possibility of integrating an innovative fresh air intake system directly above the roof.
This air intake efficiently directs the flow to the technical components of the electric drivetrain, mounted at the rear. Thus, the new concept retains not only the spirit but also the basic mechanical configuration of the Škoda 100, transforming the need to cool the batteries and motors into an aesthetic statement.
The space left free up front by the absent engine (typical of EVs) is used for a generous front trunk (or frunk), complemented by a smaller secondary compartment located above the rear drivetrain.
The Škoda 100 concept is a testament to the creativity of the brand's designers, allowing them to freely explore Škoda's heritage and bring it into the 21st century. Although, like the other concepts in the "Icons Get a Makeover" series (such as the reinterpretations of the Favorit or 110 R models), the new Škoda 100 will not enter series production, it serves a vital purpose: to show how respect for history and the aspiration for a bold, electric future can be combined.
Martin Paclt's vision is not just a simple drawing, but a modern, confident reinterpretation that honors the legend of a model that defined an era.