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Skoda reveals new Rapid

Just a couple of days after images of its sister car, the Seat Toledo, leaked onto the Internet, the Škoda Rapid gets an official unveiling. As expected, it is a 99.5-percent facsimile of the Škoda MissionL "concept" revealed at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show.
Given plenty of creases and sculpting, the Rapid is a sign of Škoda designs to come, which the brand calls "clear, precise, fresh, timeless and elegant." To our eyes it certainly isn't a bad way to keep an erstwhile Volkswagen Jetta fresh.
As with the Toledo, the price-value equation will be the Rapid's unique selling proposition for those not smitten with its looks, yet being a VW product it still won't skimp on engines: seven will be offered, five gas-powered and two diesels. Slotted between the Fabia and higher-end Octavia, the Rapid's brand new looks should help it make a name for itself among family types.

Skoda's popular Yeti headed for a facelift

One of our favorite European runabouts is officially due for an update. Skoda designers and engineers are hard at work refreshing the company's Yeti, and our spy photographers spotted the updated vehicle out for testing. A new front fascia looks to be part of the package, complete with larger air inlets and a redesigned grille similar to what we've seen on the Skoda Rapid. Designers have also reworked the small crossover's headlights up front, while the rear now wears new taillamp arrays and and fresh valance. None of the changes are Earth-moving by any means, but they should help keep the well-received Yeti competitive until the next-generation comes along.
So far, there's no solid word on exactly what engine options Skoda will put under the hood, though with a range of fresh powerplants behind a number of the company's other models, the manufacturer could easily spruce up the option sheet.

Volkswagen Group names Paefgen head of classics program

You may remember the name Franz-Josef Paefgen. Until recently, the German engineer and executive was head of both Bentley and Bugatti. Before that he was chief executive of Audi, after working for several years at Ford. He technically "retired" earlier this year, but like the cars he helped create, an executive like Paefgen could never really retire. So it should come as little surprise that the Volkswagen Group has named Dr. Paefgen head of its Classic program.
In his new capacity, Paefgen will oversee the historic automobile activities of the entire VW Group, including those of Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda, Audi, Lamborghini, and of course Bentley and Bugatti. It strikes us as a suitable semi-retirement for the man responsible in no small part for the Bugatti Veyron and Bentley Mulsanne, to name just two, and who was decorated in 2006 by the ACO as the "Spirit of Le Mans" for his contribution to endurance racing. Read the official announcement after the break.