They say it’s the journey, not the destination, that matters. Volkswagen presents its case with SmileDrive, first social app to maximise fun on every drive. Developed by Google for Android, the driving app brings (friendly) competition to road trips. Although designed with Volkswagen in mind, the app works with any car. Connecting to the user’s car via Bluetooth, SmileDrive tracks data from location, time, distance and weather. The data is calculated and a Smile Score is given at the end of the drive, which sums up everything that happened on the road.

The app also awards virtual stickers for special achievements, like going on an extra long ride, passing an identical car, or traveling on a holiday. It also brings back the classic PunchDub game, allowing people to collect punches each time they encounter another user running the app.

For a long road trip, Volkswagen added SmileCast, a travelogue filled with photos, maps, status updates and other memories, which update in real time as the trip progresses, allowing friends and family to follow the trip online. After the trip is over, SmileCast is saved, allowing the driver to relive the experience without all the gas mileage.