The next TT, we are told, will be ‘more dynamic and performance focused’ than its predecessor. What will concern TT fans is the news that the car will move upmarket. Although it won’t approach the territory of the mighty R8 it is thought that Audi have got to make room at the lower price point for Porsche’s baby Boxster – codenamed 9X1 – which, if built, may well be available from 2014, possibly with a VW variant.

As is usual these days the new TT will share a platform, this time with the Audi A3 and the VW Golf. They’ve considered other body styles – a shooting brake version was mooted around 2005 but hopefully that’s one idea that won’t leave the drawing board – but the company will probably stick with the tried and trusted pairing of coupé and soft-top. Artist’s impressions seem to indicate a more flowing body shape not unlike, from certain angles, the new 911. They wouldn’t dare, would they?

Initial indications appear to show that the front end features yet another variation of the trademark single frame grille, this time boasting a set-back main air intake, even more elaborate LED headlights, fog lamps/cornering lights, daylight running lamps and indicators, some contrasting brightwork and a pair of fake lower black vents to spice up the bumper graphics. The taillights are equally ornate with L-shaped indicators, dot-matrix brake lamps and, maybe, trendy jewel-like clusters from Audi’s OLED Swarm lighting technology. A large rear spoiler will deploy at speed.

It is believed that the interior will feature an evolution of Audi’s Multi-Media Interface incorporating a display in the driver’s field of vision. Using the latest materials the car should lose a healthy 60 kilos of weight. Other efficiency-enhancing measures include a low-friction Quattro drivetrain, improved aerodynamics and a set of more economical engines. These will run from 1.8L TFSI motor to a hot 2.5L turbo for the expected RS model. This high end TT should generate some 380bhp – rivalling the 911 Carrera S – an indication, perhaps, of where Audi are pitching this new car.

Both the coupe (June 2014) and the roadster (November 2014) can initially rely on six forward ratios, but there is a seven-speed S-tronic in the works for calendar year 2015. Quattro will be standard on the top-end variants and an option lower down. All in all, a mouth-watering prospect, but don’t expect it to be cheap.

Inevitably, Stockholm spawned similar events. Britain had it’s Citroen DS4 Seekers and there’s currently the ongoing Mercedes Benz ‘Escape the Map’ game where a beautiful girl is trapped in a Merc C63 and must escape from Streetview before it pixelates her face! Competitors who successfully answer some interactive challenges are entered into a draw to win a car. This has got to be great publicity and, to be honest, it’s probably the only chance of many of us getting our hands on a C350 Coupe. These events are fun and demonstrate that marketing doesn’t have to intrude on people’s lives, it can also integrate into them. There are some clever folk out there who understand that social media doesn’t have to be fully online to deliver real consumer experiences that challenge the norm.

Today’s car industry is fully aware of the possibilities of social media marketing and have, as above, started doing their own dedicated campaigns to aid sales or repackage their image. It’s also a great way to attract new fans to a brand. Over a period of time, the Internet has been playing a key role in influencing potential car buyers, particularly young people. In a bid to offer the best possible exposure to its products companies are seeking to create the buzz but the key here has got to be originality. Whoever is first with new and innovative ad campaigns will always be ahead of the game. Anything else is just playing catch-up.

Here in the UK we take the privacy of our personal data very seriously, which is more than can be said for some private companies or government agencies who either dispense it, for a fee, to people or organisations who say they need it, or, they lose it in parks and public areas. Now, it seems, over in the Netherlands in 2011, similar information has been sold for profit. The culprit was TomTom, the sat-nav people. They have been caught supplying customers’ driving data to the police who use it to help catch speeding drivers. The data, including historical speed, has been sold to local and regional governments to help police set traps. TomTom are very sorry, apparently. They thought the information was being used to improve traffic safety and reduce bottlenecks. Yeah, right. As more and more smartphones offer GPS navigation services so TomTom has been forced to compensate for loss of profit by increasing sales in other areas, including traffic data. So not for traffic safety reasons at all, then.

Last year no less a person than Jack Straw, the former Justice Secretary, stated that the British Police sold details of traffic accidents to lawyers of the ambulance chasing variety after meeting with the Association of British Insurers. Naturally, the police strenuously deny this. Mr Straw went on to claim that one police force had trousered as much as £1.3m in 2008/9. The cops say that this is money raised from vehicle recovery companies. Who can say? What does appear to be true is that the referrals system works on the basis of mutual back scratching that motorists pay for in their overheated premiums – and that’s before we consider the unseemly shuffling of our personal information. There should be a proper system in place to prevent police officers, health professionals and mechanics allegedly passing on personal accident details.

One aspect of the data fiasco that is known is that the DVLA certainly do sell on personal information. They state that it is allowed if the request has reasonable cause, but they are not too specific about what this constitutes. It certainly seems to include private parking companies and clampers. It is also true that the DVLA chose Experian as a commercial partner. Experian are, amongst other things, a credit reference agency. Make your own mind up. In any event, how can a Government department have a commercial partner? The latest announcement from the DVLA concerns the paper section of your driving licence. BY 2015, this is to be done away with and the related info is to be stored on a database of Britain’s 44m drivers, including details of any points or endorsements. It appears, although it is yet to be confirmed, that employers and car rental companies could get access through a portal set up for the purpose. Presumably for a fee. The DVLA have said that, whatever they finally decide, your data will be safe and secure. The answer that springs immediately to mind is: Ha!

Now, the family unit can come in all shapes and sizes; manufacturers understand this and build a wide variety of car choices in all shapes and sizes. Whereas back in the dark recesses of time the typical family owned a large saloon or shooting brake, contemporary families can choose from SUVs, crossovers, pickups, estates and hatchbacks. Certainly, it is nice to have a choice but a wide variety means choosing the right vehicle for your brood can get a bit more complex, so perhaps you’d like a few tips.

The criteria you need to consider should include characteristics that make a car family friendly. Safety, comfort, durability, economy of operation, child-friendliness, space, a reasonable purchase price and good resale value must all be considered and don’t forget, you still want something that’s a decent driver too. Just as there is no perfect family, there is no perfect family vehicle that is right for all the people all of the time.

Traditionally, buyers would select those perennial favourites the Mondeo or Passat in saloon or estate format as the household choice but with the emergence of the East European and Korean brands in recent years the selection has never been greater. Skoda, arisen like the Phoenix from the ashes of communism, has the truly excellent Octavia. Value for money is at the heart of the Octavia’s appeal, but just because it’s reasonably cheap, that doesn’t mean it lacks desirability elsewhere. In the same price bracket and perhaps a more interesting offering, there’s the Skoda Yeti. Absolutely masses of room with a versatile seating layout. There’s a 4×4 option as well.

Mazda, Citroen, Hyundai and Kia all have new SUVs or MPVs coming out and there’s still that reliable standby Volvo, beloved of country Mums. Ford are refreshing the terrific Kuga. It’s going to longer with better aero characteristics, have improved fuel figures and some new technologies. For a bit of a left field choice, how about a pickup?

Ford offer the Ranger which comes as a double cab version to suit an outdoorsy family with bikes and tents to tote around. Maybe not quite as comfortable on the road but it does have all the mod cons. In the words of Ford’s own advertising parlance this is a vehicle ‘that loves to play dirty’. Blimey.

There’s far too many options to list here and a serious trawl through the impartial guides is essential if you are to find just the right model for your needs, but just as a parting suggestion, have you considered the Dacia Duster? It’s out next winter. Renault now have a hand in Dacia, a Romanian company, but the car will be built in India. It’s going to be a ‘no frills’ SUV that could start at as little as 10K. If budget is your priority that’s a terrific incentive for a new car.

The salesman would slowly circulate around the car casually kicking the tyres. Apparently, to the expert eye, this can reveal all manner of problems of which you, the layman, were unaware. He would then stand back and squint down the line of the wings, sadly shaking his head and generally looking doleful. At this point he may make tutting noises or suck air in over his teeth, sometimes simultaneously. He will poke his head under the bonnet and mutter, ‘Oh dear, oh dear’. Finally, he will take you to one side and sadly reveal the fact that the kindest thing he could do would be to take your beloved car around the back and shoot it. So much for PX.

Times have changed. Your part exchange vehicle will still be subject to a good going over and will never, ever be as valuable as you think it is but you should get at least a reasonable offer for a decent car. Come on – let’s be fair. Car dealers in general get a bit of a raw deal. They want your business but the buyer has to remember that they, the dealers, are a business – they’re there to make a living. They have to hold stock valued in the hundreds of thousands of pounds, wages and business expenses must be paid and, it goes without saying, the government will want a piece of the action. Instead of ranting at the salesman that he is a crook and a charlatan, try to accept that most cars are depreciating assets and act accordingly. If you’re not happy with the offer, walk away and sell your car privately. If you can live with the deal then see what can be done by way of discounts or offers.

Remember, for example, that large gas guzzling cars are losing popularity because of running cost issues and the like. Dealers want cars that they know they can sell, which is a fair point. The best thing about part exchange is that you don’t have the cost and aggravation of selling it yourself. Standing out in the rain with some time-wasting spotty faced youth or a self professed ‘home mechanic’ both of whom want something for nothing can be a bit dispiriting. Suddenly, that dealer deal doesn’t look so bad, after all. Also, if you’re not mechanically aux fait yourself then you could be asking for trouble buying privately. Mysterious noises, smoking exhausts and strange hidden creases in the metal under the carpets could all signify frighteningly large bills later. It’s not just about money – peace of mind has a value. Reputable dealers will honour a deal on a second hand car with at least a partial warranty and the knowledge that you have some comeback if things don’t go well. Car dealers are not philanthropists – they want to make a profit. Understand that and your PX experience won’t be so bad after all. If you really want to feel ripped off then just look at your utility bills!

Innovation is a good thing but at what price? Try to organise a drive in an old classic car, one that has a front engine, rear wheel drive layout and doesn’t have any of the modern devices. This will bring back memories of what it feels like to be in control of machinery and remind you of what driving is about. In the same way that digital cameras have ruined the art of photography so modern cars have taken all the fun and excitement out of driving.

Automotive technology is moving at a pace quick enough to make your ears pop. Car companies seem to be always trying to outdo each other by constantly adding new bells and whistles and 2012 is likely to see more of the same. The rate of progress has been phenomenal but, as ever, the more you get, the more expensive things become. Some of the latest city cars however, as befits their price range, are bereft of gadgetry. You’d probably have to buy the top of the range model just to get basic air-conditioning. Even split folding rear seats are optional! As the price goes up so the number of toys increases. One of the best of the latest innovations has got to be Bluetooth. At the press of a button your caller’s voice will boom out around the multi-speakers. It’s a bit like talking to some omnipotent god. Sad cases who still break the law and use their mobiles on the go need to realise that for as little as £20 they can buy a visor fit, battery operated Bluetooth set that will sync, and work perfectly with, any of the latest phones. It would help save on fines. But you don’t have to fork out a fortune to get the top toys. That everyman car the Ford Focus is one of the most competent, technically advanced vehicles on tarmac today. The thing nearly drives itself. Adaptive cruise control systems, front mounted cameras and electronically controlled steering that knows when you are veering out of lane all add up to one of the most technically accomplished cars on the road – and at consumer prices.

Technology is great but does it ultimately ruin driving pleasure? Unfortunately, the answer must be a yes. On the plus side, some manufacturers now make their own perfumes and aftershave, so why not buy yourself a classic Italian sports car and splash the great smell of Ferrari all over? Those where the good old days!

Possibly the most innovative of the above mentioned is the OLED Swarm. No, not some sort of alien bee attack but rather a lighting effect (Organic Light Emitting Diodes, to be precise) that turns the rear of the car into a large illuminated surface on which many pinpoints of light fluctuate like, well, a swarm alien of bees. Movements of the red dots follow the movement of the car so, if the vehicle is turning right then the swarm will flow that way too. The faster the car is driven the more they dash about and so on. Every action of the car has a reaction from the LEDs. The idea is that following drivers can gauge their own actions appropriately. At first look it all seems to be a distraction rather than a help but there is clearly some serious intent behind it, so we’ll see.

This concept of seemingly transient light has also been applied on a slightly simpler scale in new, more advanced indicator lights that appear to perform a wiping movement from the inside outwards, making them more noticeable than even the latest LED indicator systems. The wipe is achieved by a horizontal row of LEDs that are illuminated in successive blocks.

LED headlamps are already in use but are set to evolve thanks to Audi’s new Matrix Beam Technology. This groups together a number of individual diodes backed by reflectors which provide targeted illumination without the need of a swivelling mechanism – the lights simply switch on or off or are dimmed to suit. These headlights get the information they need from a camera, from the navigation system and from additional sensors. If the camera detects other vehicles or built-up area lights ahead the appropriate sector of the headlight is faded out. They can also vary the illumination according to the weather conditions.

Lights requiring even greater intensity than headlamps may reap the benefit of advanced laser technology in future Audi models. Engineers are developing a rear fog light that uses a laser diode to project a bright, clear red line onto the road surface if visibility is moderately good. The width of this line depends on how far behind the following car is travelling. In fog or spray, the laser beam strikes the water droplets in the air and makes them visible; the laser rear fog light then takes the form of a large warning triangle. The benefits to drivers are obvious. There is a case for saying that enough is enough when it applies to technology but what price road safety?

So, city cars. The idea is for something small, manoeuvrable and easy to park around town that is nonetheless still a real car is not something that is likely to get one’s pulse racing. This is what I thought until I considered car ownership in general. I realised that with all of my recent previous cars I have never, ever, exploited anything like the full potential of their abilities because of the nature of this country’s rules and roads. Certainly, I’ve accelerated quickly but – and I’m sure you’ve experienced this yourself – within minutes of starting a spirited drive something happens to bring you down. Your sat-nav might bleep and warn of an impending speed camera or a slow moving vehicle will pull out in front of you and it’s all over. The state of British roads doesn’t help either. Years of underinvestment, bad design and shoddy workmanship (and they call it road tax. Ha.) has resulted in some roads being no better than tracks. Apropos of nothing, you might like to know that over the last twenty years Spain has undergone a massive transformation in road building and refurbishment. The roads out there are a drivers paradise as anyone who has driven up the E902 from Motril to Granada on a bright and sunny morning will attest. FYI, this was all paid for with EC money, including some of ours and yet we must crash and plunge around on roads not fit for purpose.

All this kind of sums up how I’m feeling about driving these days. That’s why I’ve chosen the city car option. Most of my driving is within a fifty mile radius of my home. The city car, I’m pleased to say, hasn’t missed a beat. It’s three cylinder 1L engine has some zip, largely because the car is so light. With all four wheels right out on the corners the handling is remarkably composed and the seats are comfortable. I’ve done one long trip so far and this car was fine – we’re crossing England here, not Siberia.

So, all in all, I am, for once, happy with my car. It’s basic and it’s fun – as simple as that. A bit like owning a friendly dog. Only without the unconditional love, obviously.

 But many of the athletes will attain attributes which can be likened to a vehicle such as power, determination, speed and endurance; and these videos will offer a guide into the comparisons.

The films, which have been published on YouTube, focus on an Olympic or Paralympic athlete from the BMW London 2012 Performance Team and they can be watched below or by clicking here. In support of the London Games, the documentaries explore what it really takes to deliver the ultimate performance on the world stage be it swimming, gymnastics or more. 

Form and Function

This documentary by Richard D’ Argues discovers the tensions between delivering both aesthetics and technical ability in British gymnast Louis Smith’s preparation performance as he aims for gold. And it learns of the equivalents with the development of the new BMW i8. Just check it out here.

Beneath the Surface

This film takes a look under the water to see how Rebecca Adlington delivers her ultimate performance ahead of London 2012. Made by Steven Riley, the director of Fire in Babylon, it examines the mental and physical challenges that face the swimming champion.

What are the resemblances to BMW? It explores the surface of the new BMW 3 Series and how its shape, like a swimmer, is important to boost an efficient and dynamic performance.

Ebay Motors is now the UK’s largest online automotive marketplace, with thousands of used vehicles bought and sold every day. The risks are just the same as they would be when buying from a private seller who has advertised on a site such as Auto Trader. The big difference with Ebay however, is that once you’ve submitted that bid you are legally obliged to pay.

A big benefit of using an auction site like Ebay Motors is that you can get some idea of the seller’s reputation. Unlike a normal private sale, you are able to read feedback on what the seller is like, how trustworthy they are and how efficient they are – something that you would normally have to judge for yourself when buying a used car from a stranger.

The key thing to remember is that if somebody is out to rip you off, they will rip you off no matter what forum they use. And in fact, you can take some comfort from the fact that Ebay itself takes a very dim view of rogue traders and has security measures in place to protect buyers.

If you are thinking about buying a used car online, there are several things that you need to keep in mind – all private sales are ‘sold as seen’ whether sold in person or in cyberspace. This means that the onus is on you to ensure that you’ve looked it over. Photographs can help, but at the end of the day the only sure fire way to get the full picture is to inspect the car personally – if that’s not possible, you can hire a RAC inspector to check it over for you.

Ebay’s ‘Ask the Seller’ feature enables you to ask any and every question you can think of. And if you can’t get hold of the seller before the auction ends, then it’s within your right to withdraw any bid you have made.

The seller should have all of the legal documents related to the vehicle, including the log book (V5 document) and MOT certificates – if not, be wary, as this could indicate some sort of fraud. Getting a full HPI check is also recommended to check that there is no outstanding finance on the car, that it hasn’t been reported lost/stolen or written off by an insurance company.

Do your homework just as you would if buying a used car from a trade forecourt or private seller – what price should you be paying? What insurance group does the car fall under? What’s the fuel economy like?

Buying a used car online can be an extremely efficient, straightforward way to get on the road and Ebay Motors, as one of the most reputable marketplaces online, can be a godsend to those who haven’t got much time to look around. But there really is no substitute for face to face inspections so before you place that bid, make sure that you’ve taken the car out for a spin – you’re then free to enjoy the bidding war that ensues in your quest to buy what you’re certain is a bargain motor!