Martin Ward, CAP manufacturer relationship manager, scours the globe for the week’s insider fleet intelligence.

Monday

When I was much younger there used to be a TV programme called How Do They Do That?.

I’ve been asking myself this very question after driving two cars which, in the past, would have been regarded as having high fuel consumption and being expensive to run.

However, these cars are the complete opposite.

The first is Audi’s TT fitted with a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine that averaged 47.2mpg in my hands and emitted 139g/km of CO2.

These figures would have been unheard of a couple of years ago in a very desirable sports coupé.

The other car, which is returning an even more astonishing 48.4mpg, is BMW’s recently revised 330d 245bhp sports saloon.

It is really pleasing while driving these cars to watch the on-board computer giving these sort of readings.

Well done to all the people behind the scenes who make it possible – how do they do that?

Some experts have told me that the manufacturers who are spending millions of pounds/euros/yen and dollars to produce more efficient engines will survive, while those who just bury their heads in the sand will not.

Tuesday

Over to Majorca to drive the new Audi S4.

It’s one of those days when you know it’s probably politically incorrect to be driving a high-powered, large petrol-engined sports saloon, but with all the doom and gloom around it makes a nice change to turn off the radio and just enjoy a car.

This new S4 has got some improved green credentials so I didn’t feel as bad – it has gone from a 4.2-litre V8 to a modest supercharged 3.0-litre V6 that produces 330bhp, compared to the 342bhp in the V8.

By losing 12bhp the new car has seen a reduction in C02 emissions of 37%, an improvement in fuel consumption of 30%, and a reduction in price, too.

The S4 has always been a great car to drive – fun but safe due to its driving dynamics and the quattro all-wheel drive system.

But this S4 has the addition of ‘Active Sports Differential’ which delivers more power to the outer rear wheel, literally pushing the car through the corner.

Prices are expected to start at around £36,000 when it goes on sale next April.

Thursday

A 30-minute flight from Majorca to Barcelona to team up with Toyota Motor Europe at the IDADA test facility for a look at a couple of cars due next year – Toyota will launch five all-new models in 2009, including the baby of the family the iQ, the Urban Cruiser, Avensis and the third-generation Prius hybrid.

It was obvious Toyota was proud of its hybrid technology and while it is currently only available on the Prius, it is likely that all its range will have the option of a petrol/electric drivetrain in the future.

The first Prius was launched in 1997 and the second generation in 2003. In those nine years more than a million have been sold worldwide.

Toyota expects that by 2011 it will sell more than one million hybrids a year. Work is continuing on a plug-in hybrid that will charge from empty to full in under two hours.

Toyota is keen to point out that hybrid is not a gimmick – it is here to stay.