Thinking CAP - CAP manufacturer relationships manager Martin Ward scours the globe for the week's insider fleet intelligence

Monday/Tuesday

To Sitges, Spain, to drive a very early pre-production Seat Alhambra, which is due for launch in the UK in September.

It has grown in length by 220mm to 4,854mm and this extra space has been used wisely, a bit each for the seven occupants and much more for luggage.

It has rear sliding doors which makes it easier to get in and out for both the second row and third row passengers, and it has easy-to-operate fold-flat seats.

We drove the 2.0 TDI 140bhp with DSG and standard stop/start technology.

Interior quality on this early car was faultless and Seat said full production cars would be even better.

Wednesday

We are often asked what our favourite car is and what we would buy if we won the lottery.
Well, this week that car arrived.

The Audi R8 Spyder is just sensational.

It looks fantastic, drives even better and makes the most wonderful sound. It is powered by a monstrous V10 5.2-litre engine that produces 525bhp and goes from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds.

Audi sells thousands of fleet cars every year, but I doubt this £112,000 supercar will get on to many choice lists.

Thursday

To the SMMT press test day at Millbrook proving ground where the majority of
manufacturers had a variety of cars to take around a number of circuits.

But as always with these events it is always the quickest, most expensive cars that booked up the fastest – the poor old five-door hatch has a day off.

I drove the Volvo C30 electric vehicle and it worked really well, it is quick and the quality is high.

The engineers have spent much time and money ensuring that safety has not been compromised.

They also confirmed that the battery will be included in the price.

Friday

To Renault HQ near Paris to have a debate about its forthcoming electric vehicles. I had to sign a confidentially agreement so this prevents me from saying what was said.

I was slightly outnumbered 14:1 but managed to stand my corner during the discussions.

But we at CAP, as said many times before, will only be valuing EVs where a battery is included in the price.

Again the French proved that we do have a different culture, we have a quick sandwich for lunch, and they have a three-course with wine.