Front Drive Shaft Fits 99-07 Sierra 1500 Pickup 234224 on 2040-parts.com

Creature comforts now top car-shoppers' 'must-haves'

New technologies come with a learning curve, but once we tackle the initial challenge it's amazing how quickly new features become “must-haves.” From cars that unlock as we approach to those that keep themselves between the lines and a safe distance from what's ahead, we have already become accustomed to high-tech driving. So which features would most drivers refuse to live without? Surprisingly, it's the simplest creature comforts most people hold dear—at least for now.

Subaru XV gets world’s first self-cleaning function (+ video)

Subaru UK has revealed that the Subaru XV Crossover can now be specified with the world’s first self-cleaning function for a car. It’s a decent effort from Subaru, with added credibility as a compact urban warrior coming from Subaru’s 4WD prowess, a choice of a couple of petrol engines and a couple of diesels, manual or auto options and prices from £21k to £30k. But in a crowded market place it’s good to have a USP, so Subaru has pushed the boat out and is offering a world first for the Subaru XV – a self-cleaning function.

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI (2010) first picture

This new Audi A1 might have a long and convoluted name – it's the A1 1.4 TFSI (136 kW) – but it's not an Audi S1 by another name. While everyone has been expecting a hot version of the A1 to be unveiled at next week's Paris motor show (and this is it), it's not dubbed S1 because there's an even hotter version of the A1 still to come. Meanwhile, this first tuned and tweaked version of the A1 uses the same engine as the VW Polo GTI, Skoda Fabia vRS and Seat Ibiza Cupra.