Trend-setters: Who will set the auto agenda in 2011?

Never mind trends – what plenty of us will be thinking about over the winter weeks is whether our car can make it out of the parking bay and onto the road.

Snow, ice and slush have suddenly uncovered the traction limitations of cars with rear, front or four-wheel drive, and if you own a car whose back axle does the driving, you may well have found yourself marooned and gripless.