How winter recalibrates our motoring needs

By Tim Pollard

Weird Stuff

29 November 2010 12:27

Early snowfall in the UK has brought the usual mayhem: schools closed, trains delayed, airports falling silent and motorists slithering and sliding all over alien white roads.

But amid the grumbles and moans in our office this morning, I find myself enjoying aspects of winter motoring.

A cold snap crystalises our automotive needs like nothing else. That heated windscreen button that's lain untouched all year suddenly takes on a unique appeal. Efficient, easy-to-use ventilation systems become a necessity, rather than a luxury. And decent traction can be a lifesaver if you live in the countryside like me.

This is car design at its most fundamental. As with much winterwear away from the ski slopes, function triumphs over style.

If only all automotive design were like that.