Skoda has taken a look at one of its rarest and most elegant classics – the two-door 1000 MBX coupe – and presented it in a completely new light. As part of its Icons Get a Makeover design series, the Czech manufacturer has shown how to combine its rich heritage with the new Modern Solid styling philosophy that will define the look of future electric Škoda cars.
This modern 1000 MBX is not a future production model, but rather a creative experiment by designers Antti Savio and David Stingel. Their goal was not to create another aggressive or overly sporty car. On the contrary, they sought to preserve the essence of the original from the 1960s – practical, elegant and with a friendly appearance.
“Modern sports cars often look too bold. We wanted to preserve the charm and lightness that cars from the 1960s possessed“, explains Savio.
The updated Škoda 1000 MBX is interpreted as an elegant crossover coupe with a $2+2$ seating configuration. The designers have added functional elements such as rear-opening doors (type “opposite opening“) and enough space to transport sports equipment or even a bicycle. To emphasize the modern spirit, the car has received an air suspension that allows changing the ground clearance – for a dynamic stance or for comfort on uneven roads.
The interior retains the character of the original, but has received a futuristic flavor. The central element is the oval dashboard with a head-up display, which immediately reminds of the style of the 60s. Oval motifs are repeated on the steering wheel and headrests, and the traditional chrome is replaced by subtle, illuminated graphic elements.
The original Škoda 1000 MBX, produced in 1966, was based on the 1000 MB sedan. It was the brand's first car with a unibody body and an engine block cast from an aluminum alloy - revolutionary technologies for its time. The two-door coupe without a center pillar was powered by an engine with a displacement of $988$ cc (42 hp). In 1968, the 1100 MBX version with 52 hp was also released.
Only 2,517 copies of this model were produced - a figure that makes it a true collector's treasure today. Antti Savio, who has worked for Škoda for more than 17 years, admits that when creating the modern look, he drew inspiration from architecture and industrial design. As a result, the body of the new MBX is built with bold, geometric lines and confident proportions. The modern approach is also underlined by the fact that the concept does not have a traditional rear window, but relies entirely on a rear-view camera.
The entire process, from the initial sketch on a piece of paper created by Savio in a bar, to the completed 3D digital model, took just about a month. The result is a project that not only pays homage to the past, but also shows Škoda's confidence in how to integrate its rich heritage into an electric future.