New models

BMW announced today that it will make a new double-clutch transmission available on the 2009 M3, the sport-tuned version of its 3 series. A double-clutch transmission is really a manual transmission, but can be used like an automatic. Instead of requiring the driver to push a clutch pedal, the car's computer and actuators control two clutches. When the driver selects an upshift or downshift, the system engages one of its clutches and disengages the other, making shifts faster than a traditional manual. BMW previously developed its SMG, or sequential manual gearbox, which operated like a double-clutch transmission from the … Read more

CNET News.com posted a gallery of photos covering the new Nano, a car from Tata designed to be the cheapest car in the world. Its 100,000 rupee price tag is equivalent to about $2,500. For that price you get a tiny four seater that's less than 10 feet long, and gets power from a two-cylinder 623-cc engine. The company has no current plans to export the Nano to the U.S.

Click here for photos of the Tata Nano.

Despite the pickup truck and cow catcher styling, the prototype of the military's new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) from Oshkosh Truck and Northrop Grumman promises better maneuverability, survivability, and payload capacity over the HMMWV it's designed to replace.

The U.S. Army and Marine Corps want something that comes armor-equipped, fuel-efficient, and air-droppable. It also wants a vehicle that can run on two flats and endure sustained small-arms fire. But most of all, performance must "exceed" that of the HMMWV, better known as the Humvee--which means it has to be more mine-resistant and ambush-proof than … Read more

Nissan showed off some serious cabin tech innovations over the last couple of years, but leaves them out of the all-new 2008 Nissan Rogue. This entry-level car fits into the new crossover segment, and seems like a cut-rate version of Nissan's Murano. The cabin tech it does have mostly concerns the audio system and is well integrated with the car.

For an entry-level crossover, it has abundant cargo space and a nicely designed, modern exterior. The Rogue is very easy to drive, although it is a little wobbly because of its high center of gravity. The engine isn't … Read more

Hot hatchback aficionados dream of a car like the 2008 Volkswagen R32. Where most hot hatchbacks, such as the 2007 Honda Civic Si, use front-wheel drive and a four-cylinder engine, the R32 upgrades those specs with all-wheel drive and a 3.2-liter V-6, giving it exceptional handling and power that doesn't fade at high speed. And the look of the R32 is about as refined as a hatchback can be.

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Another year comes to a close and we consider all the amazing cars we've reviewed. For this year's Car Tech Awards, we've nominated 10 cars in the contest for the 2007 Tech Car of the Year. You can look at the nominees, find out why we selected each one, and cast your vote. We will take the result or our reader poll and the votes of our staff judges to decide the 2007 Tech Car of the Year, which we will announce on January 14, 2008. We also have a set of additional awards for such categories … Read more

With its diesel engine, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI transports seven people and plenty of cargo while getting mileage worthy of a midsize sedan. The oversize SUV from Mercedes-Benz features all the interior luxury we would expect from the German carmaker, along with performance that favors economy over power. Unfortunately, it uses the same baseline cabin gadgets we saw in its gasoline-engined counterpart, the Mercedes-Benz GL450. This system covers a lot of the basics well enough, but the interface is poor and some features are antiquated.

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Our week with Audi's second-generation TT Coupe came soon after our earlier test of the Audi TT Roadster. We enjoyed the convertible version enough to give it an Editors' Choice award, mainly thanks to its unflappable performance and roster of available tech options.

The TT Coupe similarly impressed us, with its dynamic performance benefiting slightly from the inherently stiffer chassis that comes with a fixed roof versus a retractable one. Our test Coupe didn't include the navigation option just as the Roadster hadn't, and worse, did without our droptop's magnetic ride suspension, but we did get … Read more

Brian Cooley drives a 620 horsepower Mustang. The Saleen S302 Extreme starts out life as a Mustang GT, then gets modified and tuned from the engine through the suspension. And you can also get cabin tech niceties such as a navigation system.