Fuel Pump 01 02 Santa Fe 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.

Google reveals its first self-driving car prototype (video)

Google’s first self-driving car prototype (pictured) Google might not be the first company that springs to mind as a car maker, but Tesla has already proved that Silicon Valley can produce a car that buyers want and Google are intent on following a similar route. But where Tesla’s USP is its long-range electric capabilities – and a desire to build cars for the market – Google’s goal is more technology orientated and is all about developing self-driving car technology that works in the real world. For the last few years, Google has been experimenting with existing cars kitted out with self-driving gubbins, but now they’ve taken the next step and built their own self-driving prototype.

2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe review notes

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Just when all the auto pundits thought the big-honkin' all-wheel-drive full-size (at least for Mini) Countryman was the first sign of Mini's impending demise, along comes the apocalypse, otherwise known as the Cooper Coupe. Though people of all ages venture that it “looks cool” or “interesting” or “fun,” none of them have had to drive it or live with it. Let's get out of the way that it can be as fun to drive as a Mini Cooper S, but it's not an improvement over the larger, more functional, more sanely styled model.