Automaker Skoda picked up three prizes at January’s What Car? awards.

Held last Friday (January 15th), the event saw the firm’s Yeti model named ‘Best buy crossover under £15,000′ in 1.2 TSI S specification, the Skoda Octavia Estate 1.4 TSI take the award for ‘Best buy estate under £16,000′ and the Superb get the gong for the best family car costing less that £17,000.

The prize for the Octavia Estate was the model’s third in succession in its category, while the award for the Yeti added to its Top Gear magazine ‘Family Car of the Year’ honour and the Czech Motoring Journalists Club Car of the Year accolade.

In addition the company announced plans to produce an estate version of the Superb soon.

Last week, the Reading Post reviewed the Yeti, describing the vehicle as stylish and saying that it coped well with snowy road conditions.

The car’s interior can also be transformed through 20 different combinations, providing ample storage space.

More than Skoda spares have been produced by the manufacturer as it is celebrating winning Top Gear prizes.

The title of Family Car of the Year was scooped by the brand’s Yeti and the Superb walked away with the prize for Luxury Car of the Year.

Conor McNicholas, the magazine’s editor, said: "The Yeti has been an instant hit with the Top Gear magazine office.

"We love the styling, the handling, the quality, the space, the clever touches and yes, the name."

He added that buyers looking to invest in a family vehicle should make the Yeti a priority to check out.

The editor also had praise for the Superb stating that the price tag should not fool buyers as this motor represents a class act that delivers.

Winners of this year’s competition were chosen by Top Gear’s TV, magazine and online teams. The awards ceremony is celebrating ten years in 2009 and seeks to reward the most innovative motors of the past year.

According to one firm it is more than Skoda’s car spares that make the Octavia Estate vehicle the firm’s best-selling model of the fleet.

Uniter Group states that factors such as the model’s reliability and its economical running make the motor a consumer favourite, hence Uniter’s recent decision to use the Octavia to update its own fleet.

Peter Buttress, financial director at the company, said: "Because we continually strive to reduce our carbon footprint we need vehicles with low CO2 emissions.

"Load carrying capacity and running costs are also major factors of importance and the Octavia meets all these requirements."

Skoda’s Octavia took home the title of Best Small Family Car 2009 in JD Power’s Survey of Customer Satisfaction.

Interested buyers can walk away with their own model currently for a price tag starting from £11,995.

The Skoda brand now has 130 retailers across the UK.

New Skoda parts are likely to have gone into the production of the manufacturer’s latest estate offering.

The Superb hatch was launched in 2008 and had sold more that 3,000 of the cars in the UK up until last month. This figure increases to over 33,000 models for worldwide sales for the period from January 2009 to October.

Such figures represent a rise of sales – when compared to last year – to the tune of 78 per cent.

The Superb is said to have numerous optional features, including a revised version of the motor’s Park Assist system, which claims to get the car’s owners into even tighter spots.

It is spacious, at 1,817 mm wide by 4,838 mm long and 1,510 mm high.

Skoda started out as a manufacturer of bikes in 1895, moving on to motor bikes in 1899 and then car production in 1905.

In 1990 the company joined forces with Volkswagen, which made it the fourth brand name in the Volkswagen company – the other two brands being Seat and Audi.

New Skoda parts are likely to have gone into the production of the manufacturer’s latest estate offering.

The Superb hatch was launched in 2008 and had sold more that 3,000 of the cars in the UK up until last month. This figure increases to over 33,000 models for worldwide sales for the period from January 2009 to October.

Such figures represent a rise of sales – when compared to last year – to the tune of 78 per cent.

The Superb is said to have numerous optional features, including a revised version of the motor’s Park Assist system, which claims to get the car’s owners into even tighter spots.

It is spacious, at 1,817 mm wide by 4,838 mm long and 1,510 mm high.

Skoda started out as a manufacturer of bikes in 1895, moving on to motor bikes in 1899 and then car production in 1905.

In 1990 the company joined forces with Volkswagen, which made it the fourth brand name in the Volkswagen company – the other two brands being Seat and Audi.

One car manufacturer has launched a new enticement across its vehicles.

All purchases of the Skoda’s five model ranges will be sheltered from paying the government’s increase in VAT for the Octavia, Roomster and Fabias.

This incentive comes as in addition to the fact that Skoda already participates in the UK scrappage scheme, offering customers a trade-in figure of £3,500.

In order to qualify for the latest deal from the company, customers must reserve their motors by the end of January next year.

Alongside these offers, Skoda continues to give zero per cent finance on selected models in its range, which was launched on November 2nd and is set to continue until the last day of March 2010.

The company was voted as the Best Manufacturer in the 2009 in an Auto Express Driver Power survey and currently boasts 130 retailers of its vehicles in the UK network.

For all your Skoda spares, visits 247 Spares.

Car manufacturer Skoda has reported its sales are up when comparing quarter three of this year to the same period in 2008.

Reinhard Jung, Skoda Auto board of director’s chairman, commented on how the company has changed to still be successful in the economic downturn. He said: "We have adopted a number of measures to remain financially strong and steady.

"To combat the current problems in the automotive market, we have launched some new, attractive products."

Mr Jung highlighted the company’s successful Yeti launch and its expansion of GreenLine eco-friendly vehicles. The Frankfurt Motor Show debut of the Skoda Superb estate was also said to initiate positive feedback.

He added that Skoda anticipated a positive trend to endure until the end of this year.

For quarters one to three of 2009 the company made in excess of 387,000 motors.

Skoda claims that 98 per cent of its car owners would recommend the motors to a friend, based upon the results from a J D Power survey conducted in 2007.

For all of your Skoda spares, visit 247 Spares.

A group of female drivers in Bradford have been learning about how to look after themselves, as well as important car parts.

Skoda organised the Women in Gear workshop at one of its showrooms in the city to advise motorists how they can keep on top of vehicle maintenance and protect themselves from potential attackers should they find themselves stranded at the roadside.

The session was led by karate instructor Grant Hicks, who showed people how they can disarm a would-be assailant in three simple moves using an everyday object like a pen or a torch.

Meanwhile, former police officer Vic Botterill also offered tips on how drivers can diffuse situations that could become aggressive.

He stated: "Mouthing sorry can stop a minor incident turning into road rage. If you know you’re wrong, just say it."

In other news, a mother of three from Walsall recently won a Skoda Yeti after taking part in a nationwide competition organised to mark the launch of the company’s latest model.

Production of Skoda car parts may receive a boost from the extension of the scrappage scheme, if comments from the manufacturer are anything to go by.

The company welcomed the news extra funding is to be made available for the initiative.

Buyers looking to take advantage of the programme will find that, over and above the contribution being made by the government, the Octavia is available with an additional £2,500 discount.

Meanwhile, the Yeti, Superb, Roomster and Fabia have had an extra £1,500 knocked off their price tags.

Robert Hazelwood from Skoda commented: "The brand has now taken over 8,000 orders on the scheme and our retailers continue to offer great value to customers though our scrappage offers."

It was recently announced enough extra money is to be set aside by the government so that a further 100,000 vehicles can be bought through the scheme.

The total budget for the cash for bangers initiative now stands at £400 million.

A new model from Skoda is due to arrive in showrooms up and down the UK later this month.

The Yeti will be available in four different trim levels and buyers will be able to pick from five engines.

In addition, customers can opt for either two or four-wheel drive.

Skoda claimed the model offers an impressive range of standard equipment.

The entry-level Yeti E features electric front windows, a CD player, 16-inch alloys wheels, numerous airbags, air conditioning and remote central locking.

Prices for this variation of the vehicle start at £13,725.

Motorists keen to get their hands on the car as soon as possible may be pleased to hear the auto is due to arrive in showrooms up and down the country on September 17th.

In related news, Skoda previously announced people would be able to drive away in the model for as little as £189 per month.