Smart and practical, yet often very simple, solutions have made life easier for Skoda owners since day one. Find out more about the surprising history of Simply Clever.
An ice scraper hidden in the fuel tank cap, an umbrella inside the car door, a removable light in the luggage compartment, a funnel built into the fluid tank cap – everyone already knows about the features that we call Simply Clever today in Skoda cars.
But it all started a long time ago. Early in the automaker’s history, similar seemingly simple yet clever features were the result of hard work by developers. Rigorous testing ensured that innovations met safety needs.
1989: Engine on L&K motorcycle frame
L&K motorcycle engine on frame. Václav Laurin, co-founder of the company and builder of its first bicycles, motorcycles and cars, introduced a number of innovations that we would now call Simply Clever. For example, at the end of the 19th century, he developed bearings that were extremely resistant to moisture, so riders of SLAVIA bicycles made in Mladá Boleslav did not need to re-grease their bikes when it started to rain. The first Laurin & Klement motorcycle, launched on 18 November 1899, introduced an even more pioneering innovation. Its engine was mounted under the frame – not in the impractical position above the front wheel as on earlier French motorcycles. This made the motorcycle much easier to handle and much more stable. Furthermore, the rider was protected from oil spray and was less likely to be burned by the engine.
Early 20th century: The farmer's right-hand man
L&K machines were useful on farms: customers could use a Laurin & Klement motorcycle to power equipment such as straw cutters, circular saws and irrigation pumps by mounting the motorcycle on a stand and driving the machinery via a long leather belt. L&K Excelsior tractors could operate larger agricultural machines using a pulley on the front of the radiator, as seen in a 1916 harvest photograph.
1925: The two‑in‑one vehicle
In 1925 Skoda (after taking control of Laurin & Klement) offered a model whose rear section could be removed after loosening a few screws and replaced with a flat bed accessory, creating a cargo space 1750 x 1580 x 400 mm and allowing the vehicle to serve both as a family six-seater and as a commercial transporter carrying up to 500 kg.
1935: Ski‑slide conversion
In winter 1935 a Skoda Popular was fitted with a special metal ski on the front wheel and chains on the rear tyres, allowing it to travel across deep snow to supply remote mountain chalets and even tow skiers behind it. Tests showed the ski should be welded rather than riveted and ideally narrower at the rear; ash wood made the best sliding surface.
1970: The Skopak
The Skopak, built in Karachi in 1970–71 and based on the Octavia, was a modular pickup whose windshield could be folded down to reduce overall height to 1100 mm for passing under low obstacles. The simplest two‑seat variant omitted doors and used belts to retain occupants, a design appreciated by some military customers for rapid egress.
1996: Felicia Fun party tricks
The Felicia Fun (based on the Felicia Pickup) added leisure‑oriented features including a sliding rear section that could extend seating, an uncovered rear bed and a strong roll bar that doubled as a wind deflector for a safer open‑air experience. Only about 4,000 of these eye‑catching versions were made.
2008: Superb II “sedan/liftback”
The second‑generation Superb combined the visual dignity of a sedan with the practicality of a liftback through the TwinDoor design: the trunk can be opened as a conventional lid for quick access or as a larger liftback to load bulkier items, while still protecting rear passengers from direct airflow.
2020: Electric Simply Clever
The Enyaq iV incorporates numerous Simply Clever features (36 in total on some versions) adapted to electrified driving: the beloved ice scraper has moved from a fuel cap to a compartment in the trunk, there is a simple cable‑cleaning aid to remove dirt from charging cables, a protective cover prevents the charging connector from icing, and a washable cable bag can be stowed in the luggage area.
Simply Clever in the 21st century
Skoda introduced the Simply Clever concept in 2003. Since then, more than 60 of these small but practical solutions have been implemented across the range. The funnel integrated into the windshield washer fluid cap (first seen on the Scala in 2018) is available as a factory feature or as a Skoda Original Accessory for older models. Technical design and aesthetics for each idea are developed carefully to ensure safety and usefulness.