Skoda 1000 MBX: the retro-futuristic return of the rare Czech coupé that defies time

A revival of one of Skoda’s most exclusive models, blending nostalgia, modern design and an electric vision of the future.

A Skoda classic reimagined with futuristic flair

Skoda has let its imagination run wild with a project that merges heritage with forward-looking design. The Czech brand’s designers have reinvented the spirit of the 1000 MBX, one of its rarest models –only 1,403 units built between 1966 and 1969, plus just 1,114 examples of the more powerful 1100 MBX– and adapted it to the new “Modern Solid” design language. The result is a digital interpretation that honours the original rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupé while giving it clean lines, boxy proportions and creative touches impossible to see on today’s production cars.

A bold design that fuses past and future

Here’s where the key subtitle fits perfectly: the reinterpretation of the 1000 MBX blends pure nostalgia with unexpected details. Like the original, this concept eliminates the B-pillar, but adds small, rear-hinged doors similar to those of the Mazda RX-8, creating a surprisingly wide opening. Inside, it features front bench seats and cinema-style tip-up rear seats, a playful nod to an era when Skoda wasn’t afraid to experiment. The project was led by Antti Savio (exterior) and David Stingl (interior), and completed in just four weeks as part of the “Icons Get a Makeover” series.

An electric sport coupé that exists only in imagination

Like the other designs in this series, the new 1000 MBX is fully electric and will never reach production. This freedom allows Skoda to equip it with features no real model will carry, such as height-adjustable air suspension. Roughly the size of the last Audi TT, this compact EV maintains the proportions of its ancestor while adopting the crisp, futuristic aesthetic of the Modern Solid philosophy. It also echoes other retro-futuristic concepts such as the Nissan IDx, sharing that blend of analog nostalgia and digital ambition.

Smart details that pay tribute to the original

One of the standout elements is the interior: the design team created an unusual oval dashboard covered by a glass panel –a striking, elegant touch. Skoda has also shown images of the original model to highlight how closely the new sketches follow the MBX’s defining shapes, from the flat side surfaces to the distinctive volume of the rear. This digital reinterpretation proves how a classic can be reborn through modern styling without losing its identity.

A creative exercise that won’t see production, but sets the tone

Although this retro-futuristic 1000 MBX will never reach showrooms, it serves as a showcase for Skoda’s evolving design direction. The most tangible result of this new styling language is the Vision O, a large electric estate due to become a production model in the coming years. The MBX reinterpretations, meanwhile, remain captivating side projects –creative exercises that celebrate the brand’s past and, even if they never hit the road, inspire Skoda’s next electric era.