A2126860136l Left Front Door Panel / 131718 For Mercedes Class E W212 Fam- on 2040-parts.com

Partners make the perfect co-driver

CELEBRITY heart-throbs such as George Clooney and Cheryl Cole have come second-best in a recent survey of drivers who were asked for their perfect partner on a long road trip. Six out of 10 drivers in the UK said they would choose their regular partner, whether that person is their husband, wife, friend or workmate, 61% of drivers asked said they would prefer their usual driving buddy to George Clooney or Cheryl Cole. Surprisingly, 11% of drivers surveyed by Halfords said they would be happiest with just a satellite navigation system for company on a long road trip.

Lexus LFA, from design to dealership in six minutes: Video

Seeing the Lexus LFA in person makes it easy to forget that the supercar has been in development for more than 10 years. But you do get a wondrous amount of technology for $375,000, the carbon-fiber body, a retractable rear wing and a compact V10 so fast that analog gauges couldn’t keep up with it. Add to that 553 hp, 354 lb-ft of torque and a 202-mph top speed, and we just had to put the LFA to the test at our favorite local racetrack.

Plans for Smart’s three-seat sports car uncovered in patent drawings

Mercedes-Benz is developing a three-seat sports car for Smart. Depicted here in a series of European patent-application sketches obtained by AutoWeek, the radical new sports car forms part of an extended range of new Smart models planned for introduction by the middle of the next decade, including a more conventional four-seater to be produced in cooperation with Renault. Mercedes-Benz is reacting to increased competition from Toyota in the form of the iQ and the impending arrival of similar urban-based offerings from premium-brand rivals Audi and BMW.