What's Better for the Snow: A FWD Model with Winter Tires or an AWD Model with Regular Tires?

It's a question asked by many automobile owners living in a number of regions around the world with harsh winters and lots of snow; would you be better off with a front-wheel drive (FWD) model fitted with winter tires that you can swap once the weather warms up, or an all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle with regular rubber?

The difference in pricing between winter tires and the option of all-wheel drive on a FWD car varies among automakers and even individual models, though, you should keep in mind that a second set of tires can potentially extend the life of your standard wheels.

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Spy Shots: New Skoda Octavia Combi Caught on Public Roads

There's really no point in trying to hide the styling elements of the new generation of the Skoda Octavia Combi since the liftback version has already been formally introduced and we've even seen the station wagon without camouflage (albeit from a distance), however, the Czech carmaker continues to circulate lightly masked prototypes like this one, nabbed earlier in the week.

Not that the Octavia saloon is revolutionary in its design, but you'll probably have a more difficult time telling the Combi apart from the current model as Skoda kept the same roofline and window design, sans the small kink on the luggage compartment area.

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Skoda MissionL to be Named Rapid in Europe, will go on Sale Before the End of the Year

The production version of the Skoda MissionL sedan will be called the Rapid in Europe, the Czech automaker revealed today at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show where it is displaying a lightly modified version of the concept model for the Chinese market.

Even though they share the same name, the compact-sized notchback is a different model from the smaller India-market Rapid sedan that is based on the VW Polo saloon.

Positioned between the Fabia supermini and the mid-size Octavia, the new Rapid will reach European showrooms just before the end of the year. Skoda said that a Chinese version of the Rapid will be built and sold in China from 2013.

"As part of its growth strategy, Skoda has initiated the largest model offensive in its corporate history and will bring a new vehicle to market every six months on average in the years ahead,” said Skoda boss Winfried Vahland. “The Rapid is our next new model. It has a central importance for our growth and will provide us with a strong tailwind on international markets,” he added.

The MissionL was unveiled for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September last year.

The Volkswagen Group's Seat brand will also produce its own version of the Rapid called the Toledo.

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