Skoda Designers Reimagine Ferat as a Futuristic Electric Concept

Skoda designers revive the legendary Ferat in a modern electric concept, blending cinematic mystery with the clean lines of Modern Solid design.

Skoda has reimagined one of the most enigmatic figures in its history — the Ferat. Known to audiences from the 1981 Czech horror film Upír z Feratu, this striking vehicle has now returned as a concept car built on the principles of Skoda's Modern Solid design language. The project was a collaboration between close friends — exterior designer Giuseppe Campo and interior designer Stanislav Sabo — and marked their most intensive creative partnership to date at the company.

The starting point was the rare Skoda 110 Super Sport prototype from 1971, later transformed by Oscar-winning artist and costume designer Theodor Pistek into the sinister black “vampire car” for its cinematic role. In the film, Ferat fed on the blood of its drivers. The new version doesn’t bite, but charges — as an electric vehicle that draws power from the grid while keeping its dark soul intact.

The designers sought to capture the eerie atmosphere of the original while embedding it in the clean, futuristic lines of Modern Solid. The result is a vehicle that feels like it emerges from the shadows: wedge-shaped contours, red accents, and minimalist surfaces connect past and present. One major exterior evolution is the treatment of the windshield and roofline. Unlike the original, where they lifted as one piece, the new design features a dividing red line across the glass, separating it visually from the rear-tilting roof structure.

The interior echoes the same design logic. A glowing red strip runs along the center tunnel, indicating battery charge level. The seats are seamlessly integrated into the cabin and include oval buttons — a subtle nod to the original Ferat. The floating dashboard doesn’t stretch into the door zone — a continuity from the film car, which had none. According to the designers, the cabin is meant to engulf the crew, evoking mystery and a subtle sense of threat.

This concept is part of the ongoing Icons Get a Makeover series, where Skoda designers breathe new life into legendary models. Though there are no plans for mass production, the project demonstrates how legacy and innovation can coexist — especially in an era increasingly shaped by electrification. From a design perspective, it’s a sculpture on wheels. From a technical standpoint, it’s a canvas for freedom. And maybe, just maybe, one day Ferat will rise again — not only on the screen, but on the road.