Has the U.S. auto industry finally hit bottom? U.S. will get a new small SUV from BMW--and perhaps a new mini Miata. Plus, we take you for a ride in a really nice car that could be so much better.
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SHOW NOTES
The BMW X1 will come to the U.S., slotted beneath the X3 as a utility stablemate to the 1 Series.
(Credit: BMW of North America)• How Toyota's geared CVT works -- see an animation
• Fiat's 500 will come to the U.S., but not stablemates
• See BMW's new fuel, weather and stocks screen
Cash for gas guzzlers becomes law--how many loopholes? The Chevy Volt is taking shape, literally. Is Porsche thinking of something cheaper than a Boxster? Pioneer wants to use WiMax to stream to your car. And we drive the cheapest Land Rover you can buy.
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SHOW NOTES
• Cash for Gas Guzzlers signed into law
• Audi will evangelize diesel all summer
• Chevy Volt prototype seems to be shaping up
A new car company in Louisiana, the latest on the Cash for Clunkers law, a car gadget that will prove you're an idiot, and a ride in a little hot rod we don't really like.
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SHOW NOTES
• Cash for Clunkers: What you need to know
• New car company starts up in Louisiana
• 3D maps and more impress us in the Eclipse AVN726e
Did Saab just become a high tech supercar? BMW rewrites the rules for voice command, thankfully. Airbags in places you wouldn't believe. And a ride in a big, comfy, annoying Mercedes!
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SHOW NOTES
Mercedes ESF 2009 safety car has airbags in goofy places and people in foil suits loving it.
(Credit: Mercedes-Benz)• Mercedes ESF 2009 safety car
• iPhone will finally get real turn-by-turn navigation
• BMW to dramatically ease voice command in cars
Hummer and Saturn get new parents, new mini cars are coming to the U.S., we learn what consumers really want in car tech, and we roll in a new hybrid sedan we really like.
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Show notes
Hummer goes to the Chinese, Saturn to Roger Penske. It's a whole new day.
(Credit: Hummer, Saturn)• Fiat 500 coming Chrysler stores
A ride in Lexus first "luxury economy car," GPS maps that don't look like maps, you won't believe what Audi has in mind for the R8, and GM gets bundled up for a swift reorganization to the tune of $30 billion!
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SHOW NOTES
• Lexus HS 250h first impressions
• TeleAtlas starts offering photorealistic GPS nav imagery
• VW dealers will sell Garmin GPS nav devices
Obama talks GM, but leaves out the "B" word. Hydrogen is back this week; will it stay? And the new version of Microsoft SYNC is out; we'll tell you what it does and if your Ford can get it. Plus, a ride in a hotted-up Lexus.
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SHOW NOTES
• CNET Video: Cooley drives the Lexus IS350
• Check here to upgrade SYNC in your FoMoCo vehicle
An electric Ford is coming, but at what price? Two tricks that will make an Audi use less gas. We also tell you what 12 percent of new cars will have next year. Plus, ride in a car with the wrong name on the badge!
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SHOW NOTES
• CNET drives the Audi A6 3.0T Sedan
• Ford admits electric Focus will have limited appeal
• Watch automatic battery changing station in action
• OnStar uses Microsoft Virtual Earth to find where you crashed
Did hydrogen cars just blow up? GM's closer to unloading Saturn, but also to keeping part of it. One less GPS nav brand to contend with. And, we get a lot of stares in this week's test car.
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SHOW NOTES
• First look at the Nissan Cube
• Yet another EV comes out of the woodwork
The big week comes for Chrysler: bankruptcy and a shotgun marriage to Fiat, how you might get 80 mpg out of your current hybrid, and are four-cylinder engines on the way back for Mercedes and BMW?
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SHOW NOTES
• BMW 650i convertible review and video
• 81 mpg Ford Fusion Hybrid--You can, too!
• Scosche SolChat solar Bluetooth speakerphone
Brian Cooley has a fleet of late '60s cars so he's well aware that great motoring exists happily in the absence of silicon--car technology only impresses him when it's great.
Wayne Cunningham On the cutting edge of tech coverage, Wayne began his journalism career writing about the Web in 1995. Although he has covered many areas of technology, he considers the Car Tech beat the best yet.
Antuan Goodwin gained most of his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway. From drivetrain tech and performance to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
