Motorists get intimate with their cars

• Over 25% of people touch and kiss their car
• One-third give their car a name
• 60% talk to their car

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More than a quarter of British motorists admit to getting intimate with their cars, according to a What Car? survey published today.

The survey, conducted to mark the launch of the movie Transformers on DVD and HD DVD, revealed that a quarter of motorists touch and kiss their car.

The findings echo the Transformers film, which follows the growing relationship between a young man, his first car and his first girlfriend.

Other results of the survey include the fact that more than a third of motorists name their cars - and those in Northern Ireland are the most likely to do so, at 43%.

Films had the greatest influence on what people called their cars, with The Batmobile, Bumblebee, K.I.T.T and Herbie featuring in the top five.

In addition, 60% of drivers admitted to talking to their cars.

While many would consider this a sign of madness, research psychologist Christina Gaitanou from London Metropolitan University suggests that this social behaviour symbolises a need that humans have to identify with objects.

'It is not unusual to talk to objects, especially those that have been named,' says Gaitanou. 'The act of talking to a car reflects that a relationship exists between a person and their car. This behaviour shows how people can become attached to objects that they possess.'

London motorists day-dreaming while stuck in traffic also revealed what they would like their car to transform into – with more than half saying an aeroplane, in the hope they could beat the congestion.