Self-driving cars face a long and winding road to success
Google's self-driving cars may still not happen. But if they do,
their effect would be bigger than the company is prepared to say
How does Google's self-driving car work – and when can we drive
one?      • Jump to comments () Google showcases its latest
self-driving car prototype, allowing members of the public to be
taken for a spin  Google's first purpose-built self-driving car
has arrived. The dinky two-seater looks like a cross between a
Smart Car and a Nissan Micra, has no steering wheel, accelerator
or brakes, and just two physical controls: "stop" and "go".
It's been a long time coming, and there's a lot more work for
the company to do in the future. But right now, Google walks a
knife-edge between over- and under-promising. Its cars could
change the world – if anyone lets them. But there's also a
certain sleight of hand involved in what it has shown off so
far.  Are we nearly there yet?  The immediate problems for
Google remain technical. It