Three decades ago, on a crisp October day in 1994, the Skoda Felicia made its grand entrance on the world stage – and where better to do it than Prague’s historic Charles Bridge? Not only did the car cause a stir in the automotive world, but it also signalled a new chapter for Skoda , having teamed up with the Volkswagen Group three years earlier. With over 1.4 million units sold by the time production ended in 2001, the Felicia left an indelible mark on roads (and racetracks) worldwide.
Picture the scene: 26 October, 1994. Tourists are snapping photos of Prague’s iconic Charles Bridge when suddenly – boom! – the reborn Felicia rolls into view, making its grand debut. Production had already started at Skoda’s Vrchlabí plant a month earlier, but it wasn’t until the Felicia’s dramatic unveiling on that famous cobblestone bridge that the world knew it was witnessing the first new model of the brand to be developed under supervision from Volkswagen.
Gallery: Skoda Felicia turns 30 The Felicia was the successor to the Favorit, but it didn’t just inherit the family business – it expanded it. Literally. The Felicia hatchback was longer and wider than the Favorit, with an increased boot capacity.
It also got a little help from its new family from Wolfsburg. With access to VW’s tech, the Felicia boasted important features at the time like ABS, airbags, air conditioning, and, for the luxury lovers, heated seats and leather upholstery. By 1995, you could even get.
