Did you know that Mercedes-Benz have their very own driving academy? I didn’t. How long has this been going on?

Any road, seemingly inspired by just how unbearably cold it is at the moment, they’re already thinking about winter. Not winter as in “right now”, but winter as in “November/December 2012”.

Specifically, they’re thinking about the beastly manner in which ice and snow can cause your car to career off the road – which has and will put an end to many a fledgling driving career, ho yes!

That’s why they’re taking action to keeping new drivers safe whilst simultaneously raising awareness of the issues faced by motorists when a freeze descends: A greater risk of unwelcome insurance claims and serious injury.

Such a mammoth task! But Mercedes-Benz think they’re worthy of meeting it head-on. They’ve teamed up with Pirelli to equip their fleet of A-Class training cars with Pirelli Cold Weather Tyres. Single-handedly this will prevent the uncertainty of wintry roads making for “chilling moments” whilst on a driving lesson.

That was their joke, not mine.

In addition to these kitted-up training cars, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy offers a Winter Driving Course. Taking place in the controlled environment of Mercedes-Benz World’s Handling Circuits and advanced skid pad, the course offers drivers of all levels of experience the opportunity to prepare themselves for the worst winter has to offer – all without endangering themselves or other drivers.

It always helps to be prepared, no?

You can get the voice of Homer Simpson on your TomTom sat-nav device. This we already know. Indeed, the beloved oaf has become the most downloaded character of all time for TomTom GPS apps and personal navigation devices.

But joining Homer are two new voices direct from Springfield – Homer’s wonderful wife, Marge Simpson, and his dreaded boss, Mr. Burns.

Oh god yes.

But what are they like?

Well, Mr Burns is every bit as direct and evil as you might expect, coming out with such gems as Take the third right. Do it, driving monkey!” and “Take the exit on the right. Trust me – I’m an evil billionaire.”

Marge, meanwhile, offers a more sedate driving experience, but often comes out with wry nuggets such as “Exit right ahead. Hmm, it smells a little funky in here. Was Homer in this car?”

Marge Simpson, Mr Burns and Homer Simpson are exclusively available for the TomTom App for iPhone, iPad and personal navigation devices.  The voices can be downloaded onto a TomTom personal navigation device from mytomtom.com or from TomTom HOME. Users of the TomTom iPhone and iPad apps can obtain the voices via in-app purchase.

“We want to keep the offerings on the TomTom app fresh and exciting by introducing new voices at different times,” said Jeffrey Godsick, President of Fox Consumer Products. “We know that fans of the show are going to appreciate these new additions as it gives them yet another platform to enjoy one of the greatest shows of all time.”

This is incredible news.

The thought of being Mr Burns’s driving monkey is enough to make me want to get a TomTom.

And learn to drive, of course.

A driving adventure! What a great idea. Nothing but a worn track behind you and an unblazed trail ahead – untamed nature, fear me!

Only one thing can spoil it, though. Burst tyres, lack of petrol and man-eating tigers are all part of the fun. But travel with the wrong person and your whole adventure is put in jeopardy.

Luckily, the good people at Continental Tyres have come up with a list of the ten worst people with whom to motor.

They surveyed 2,000 motorists to find which celebrities Brits would least like to share a car-based adventure with. The research was conducted as part of the launch of this year’s Conti 4×4 Trophy (pictured), where people compete for a place on an epic off road challenge, driving a Hummer across the Sahara Desert.

Jeremy Clarkson unsurprisingly took the top spot. Because he’s an awful, awful man, presumably.

Tim Bailey, spokesperson for Continental Tyres, said: “Driving thousands of miles through the Atlas Mountains and the fiery sands of the Sahara Desert makes your choice of co-driver incredibly important. It’s a long, tough and often dangerous journey.

“Jeremy Clarkson might have motoring credentials but either his calamitous road trips on Top Gear his lack of practical skills or his outspoken views mean most people would leave him behind.”

Top ten worst celebs to go on driving adventure with:

1. Jeremy Clarkson
2. Katie Price
3. David Cameron
4. Kate Moss
5. Carol Vorderman
6. Christine Bleakley
7. Nick Clegg
8. Madonna
9. Simon Cowell
10. Lewis Hamilton

No matter how long or short the journey is, every motoring excursion ever undertaken is going to start and end with parking manoeuvres.

Except for those which end in a collision, of course.

But doesn’t that alone highlight just how important it is for motorists to master the ancient and revered art of parking?

Thank god, then, that IAM Drive & Survive’s head of training’s here to offer his top parking tips.

You know his name. Take it away, Mr. Simon Elstow:

1. Park on the left-hand side of the road if possible, and always at night.

2. In a car park, try and reverse into parking spaces as this is safer when driving out of a space, and more fuel efficient as you’ll be manoeuvring with a warm engine.

3. Check your mirrors and over your shoulder frequently – you still need to know what’s going on around you. Don’t just rely on parking sensors to guide you.

4. When looking for a parking place, don’t stop suddenly. Drive slowly past a potential parking space and size it up to see if your car will fit. And if you can’t stop because you have traffic behind you, drive on.

5. When visiting a supermarket or retail park, try and park away from trolley parks and corners to avoid your car being exposed to damage from trolleys.

6. When parking, open your window in car parks and turn off your stereo. You can often hear something before you can see it.

Simon says: “Parking is an essential part of driving which many people find stressful. Don’t feel pressurised by other drivers waiting for you to park – it’s important to take your time.”

That’s all excellent advice, Simon.

I’m particularly happy that he’s addressed the increasingly prevalent parking sensor technology. I for one am quite concerned that such machinery would lead to a generation of complacent drivers dependent on technology. You have to ask yourself, what if the cars want us to crash?

I would say, though, that your first piece of advice is a little unclear, Simon. I presume you meant to advise that drivers should always park on the left-hand side of the road at night. You inferred, though, that drivers should wait until night time before attempting to park at all.

Simon, I’m sure that, like me, you’re horrified by the idea of drivers sat waiting ’til sundown before parking up.

Imagine how many people would be late for work.

General Motors has been associated with extraordinary vehicle advances for the better part of the century. They’ve been there from the start, standardizing and developing the vehicle at every turn. Once more about to revolutionize the industry, the company has recently revealed an in-car entertainment technology that will make every window in your car an interactive center.

The project conducted Israeli Bezalel Academy of Art and Design created prototypes that would make our inner children weep in joy. As reporters at the Daily News noted, the “advanced windows” capabilities give practically any touch-sensitive surface a number of displaying graphic capabilities.

As part of the project the team has also come up with several apps that will allow the passengers of your vehicle to interact with your car simply but turning to the sides of their vehicle. Reporters have noted that the most dynamic of these has been called the Spindow, an application that will all the users to see inside other users windows. Furthermore, an app called Pond has also been developed, allowing the user to share messages as well as stream music within the car (rather ironically, due to developments in intellectual property such technologies will have a very difficult to correctly implement).

Similarly, an app called Otto will have an animated character that will interact with the scenery behind the car. Indeed, one of the main advantages of these types of applications will be their unique setting. While iPad’s or our laptops certainly are malleable, they cannot usually take your settings an manifest it into a game or activity. Seeing this technology develop will allow for speed as well as location to play an augmented role in the virtual world.

However, before you start throwing money at GM, one should point out that the company has no immediate plans to put this technology into our vehicles. Certainly a shame, however all is not lost. Indeed other companies are looking into similar technologies and may in fact be putting them into ones rather soon. Among these have been Toyota who in collaboration with the Copenhagen Institution of interaction Design has also been working on technologies and apps that will entertain but also educate children right in your cars.

The march of technology is quite impressive. Everything from the small devices neatly hidden away at the back of our cars to the more visible touch screens we all use seem offer something very magical. Now well into the next era of developments, it seems like this relentless pace has yet to slow down, making great improvements to car surfaces.  Most impressive of these achievements is an organic light-emitting diode (or OLED) that can make cars roof transparent.

Developed through a partnership between BASF and Philips this technological is a very practical and impressive breakthrough in vehicle technology. Aimed at providing you with a very unique roof that will give either full visibility or protective enclosure, it seems like this technology will be making the vehicle market quite an interesting place for the next few decades. As reporters at The Engineer have pointed out, this type of surface also will produce a soft light on the inside allowing for much greater visibility.

Another impressive feature of this technology allows the roof to generate electricity during the day. Dr Felix Gorth, the head of the OLED division at BASF Future Business noted that this combination will produce an open-space feeling while still offering practical functions.

The company has been on the forefront of car engineering for quite some time. Ever since 2006, both BASF and Philips were link to produce the most innovative ideas. Part of the Germany Federal Ministry of Education and Research 2015 initiative, the company has been using organic-chemical materials like dyes within Phillips OLED branch.

As Printer Electronic World reporters noted, the OLED technology will produce many advantages in the high-energy efficiency markets. Rotted in creative flexibility as well as design, the light resources found on the 1.8 millimetre thick sheet will give a cars body quite an overhaul. Interestingly enough, one would hypothesize that combining this with carbon-nanotubes might make this the next great industrial grade material.

Offering a great opportunity, the main question companies will be asking will be related to cost. Indeed, while the option will always be welcome, where and when will we see such vehicles? Certainly not on budget vehicles for quite some time, let us hope that high-end brands pick this technology as soon as they can, who wouldn’t want a see through Ferrari?

Garages. What are they there for? Well, you’ll always need somewhere to store those old tins of paint and bundles of newspaper tied up with string. Ostensibly, though, they’re to store your car. To keep it safe from the elements, the environment and from brigands.

But here’s a concept based upon a curious premise: Garages are all well and good, but they do tend to make your car invisible to visitors and passers-by alike.

Not any more! AutoSpace is designed to transform an ordinary domestic garage into a “stunning show space” at home.

AutoSpace garages offer bespoke designs tailored to meet your personal needs. They can accommodate multiple cars, a workshop, storage space (for old paint) or even a garden studio or office – we’re talking modular units added as required, here.

They can be designed with floor to ceiling glazing, security blinds, ambient lighting and electric roller shutters. The idea is that they can be tailored to the same extent as the motor which is to be stored within.

Says Amira Idris Town, a partner of Ecospace, the design company responsible: “Certain cars become an iconic benchmark in automotive design, and we wanted to create a more appropriate solution where your car can be kept, enjoyed and admired. Whatever you drive, from a rare classic to the latest supercar, you need somewhere to keep your pride and joy safely and have convenient access [to] it.

“We believe AutoSpace is an innovative and well designed advance from what else is available on the market, and allows clients to achieve a contemporary, high performance solution that best complements their cars and requirements.”

But how much will one of these set you back? Well, you’re looking at a bare minimum of £18,000 +VAT for a fully-installed single bay AutoSpace measuring 6m x 3.4m x 2.8m. Case in point? The model as shown above would set you back some £45,000 +VAT.

Clearly, then, these things are designed for rich home-owners. Which does make sense, as that Vauxhall Corsa you got second hand, though lovely and reliable, really would look somewhat out of place in the old AutoSpace.

But how long before we start to see these things in Nuneaton and Dis?

You know in Terminator 2 and bullets are rendered useless as the T-1000′s liquid metal skin heals itself automatically? Yeah, Nissan are on their way to making such technology a reality.

Luckily, so far they’ve only applied it to iPhone cases.

That’s right. Nissan have developed an iPhone case which heals itself automatically.

The Nissan Scratch Shield iPhone case uses the brand’s pioneering self-healing paint finish. This technology, first developed in 2005 and already in use on a number of Nissan and Infiniti models, allows fine scratches to quickly mend themselves.

See, the outer paint is made from polyrotaxane, which means that when damage occurs to the coating in the form of a fine scratch, the chemical structure is able to react to change back to its original shape and fill the gap – ‘healing’ the blemish.

Alright, so we’re not quite at the level of indestructible time-travelling kill-bots yet. But as with all technological developments, one cannot help but think of the implications.

Or is that just me?

The Nissan Scratch Shield iPhone case is compatible with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4 S. It can heal small scratches in as little as an hour, but requires up to a week to heal more severe cases.