On 26 October 1994, the world premiere of the Škoda Felicia took place on Prague’s iconic Charles Bridge. Production of the new model had already started in September at the Vrchlabí plant, with the Mladá Boleslav factory following suit on 17 October 1994. The Felicia became the first car developed after the Volkswagen Group acquired a stake in Škoda in 1991, utilising its technology and components. That granted Škoda access to the Group’s equipment and engines, as well as modern safety and comfort features, contributing to the Felicia’s remarkable commercial success.
Dawn of a new era
The Felicia model range emerged from a comprehensive modernisation of the previous Škoda Favorit. The Felicia featured a new design, with the five-door hatchback being 40 mm longer and 15 mm wider than the Favorit, which also increased the boot capacity by 21 litres to a total of 272 litres.
The base engine was a 1,289 cc petrol four-cylinder, available in two power outputs (40 kW and 50 kW). In 1995, a more powerful 1.6 MPI engine (55 kW) and a naturally aspirated 1.9 D diesel engine (47 kW) were introduced. Thanks to close cooperation with the Volkswagen Group, modern features were introduced to the Felicia throughout its production, including ABS, up to four airbags, power steering, air conditioning, an onboard computer, heated front seats, and leather upholstery. The Škoda Felicia was named Car of the Year in the Czech Republic in 1994.
Body variants: practical and fun
In June 1995, the range of body styles was expanded to include the practical estate model, measuring 4,205 mm in length and offering 447 litres of luggage space. In August 1995, the Kvasiny plant began producing utility versions – the Pickup and Vanplus. Additionally, based on the Pickup, more than 4,000 units of the Škoda Felicia Fun were produced for leisure purposes. This unique vehicle, in its distinctive yellow colour, featured an unconventional 2+2 seating arrangement, with a fold-out bench on the truck bed for rear passengers.
In February 1998, a major facelift was introduced, aligning the car’s exterior with Škoda’s design language at the time, which had been established by the larger Octavia model (in production since 1996). With this update, the Felicia’s length increased by 28 mm, or 32 mm for the estate version, and new body colours and additional equipment options were also introduced.
Special editions and motorsport success
Throughout its career, the Škoda Felicia was offered in a variety of special versions and editions. In 1995, the top-of-the-range Laurin & Klement trim line was introduced for the first time with this model. A year later, the Atlanta special edition was released in honour of the Summer Olympic Games. Other notable editions included Sport Line, Color Line, Excellent, Magic, Family, and Mystery, the latter featuring a motif based on the Prague Astronomical Clock. When the final Škoda Felicia rolled off the production line in June 2001, the total number of units produced reached an impressive 1,401,489 vehicles.
The Felicia proved its robustness, durability, and versatility in motorsport as well, competing in the World Rally Championship between 1995 and 1997, where it regularly topped the overall standings. The Škoda Felicia Kit Car was powered by 1.3, 1.5, and later 1.6-litre four-cylinder engines, with the latter tuned by the Škoda Motorsport team to deliver up to 174 horsepower. Over the course of its rallying career, the Škoda Felicia Kit Car earned a reputation for reliability and excellent handling – much like its standard production counterparts, which continue to serve faithfully to this day.