Top tech cars of 2010 (photos)

A tech tour de force, the newest A8 combines the luxury of an executive sedan with a surprising nimble, sporting character, the result of adaptive suspension technology and Quattro all-wheel drive.

Audi anchors the cabin tech with a hard-drive-based navigation system that shows rich 3D maps, and it delivers exceptional audio from a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen system. Audi will add a Google Local Search connection early next year.

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The cabin tech interface adds handwriting recognition for alphanumeric inputs, a system that is much easier to use than the car's rotary knob. We found this new interface to work very well, recognizing our crabby handwriting and causing little distraction from the road.

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Infiniti made its flagship sedan more imposing for 2011, with a beefier look for the body and a big 5.6-liter V-8 under the hood. Lacking the length of competitors from Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, or Audi, the M56x is a car for drivers.

Infiniti's cabin tech has been excellent for a number of years, and the M56x continues this tradition without any radical changes. The maps render certain landmark buildings, the iPod screen shows cover art, and the audio system produces fine sound.

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Infiniti loads the M56x with ground-breaking technology to help avoid collisions. In city traffic, the car can handle the braking, coming to a full stop. This system is activated with the lower button on the steering-wheel spoke. Meanwhile, lane departure prevention and adaptive cruise control almost let the car drive itself.

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The MKZ Hybrid is a mid-size sedan using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor. It is the same system used in the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and it combines excellent fuel economy with good driving characteristics. Lincoln gives the instrument cluster a high-tech touch with LCDs showing configurable power displays.

But even without the hybrid system, the MKZ Hybrid would rate high for its cabin tech. It uses a THX audio system for excellent sound quality, one of the best voice command systems in the business, and data feeds from satellite radio for gas prices, traffic, and weather.

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The MKZ Hybrid's power train is made up of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a 106-horsepower electric motor, delivering a combined 191 horsepower and EPA mileage of 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. While driving the MKZ Hybrid, it is possible to keep it cruising under electric power only at speeds of around 40 mph.

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This car combines the cutting-edge cabin tech available in Mercedes-Benz's flagship sedan with a new hybrid power train that keeps its fuel economy in the 20s, a big improvement over the S550's consumption.

For navigation, the S400 Hybrid gets detailed 3D maps showing rendered buildings and traffic. Harman Kardon provides excellent audio, but features such as night vision and adaptive cruise control are real wow factors.

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The hybrid power train is made up of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, a 20-horsepower electric motor, and a 120-volt lithium ion battery pack. Although the electric motor cannot propel the car on its own, it gives the engine a significant boost when launching and allows for start-stop operation.

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Nissan took the lead in the electrification of the automobile with the 2011 Leaf. The car's pure electric power train costs about 70 percent less to run than that of a comparable gas engine car. Drawbacks such as 100 miles of range and hours-long charging time limit the uses of the Leaf, but it works fine as a suburban runabout.

Along with its electric power train, the Leaf comes with a navigation system and other cabin tech features.

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Top tech feature
The Leaf is the first mass-production vehicle to use a pure electric power train and a lithium ion pack. Owners will be able to charge it at home, eliminating the need to visit gas stations. As charging infrastructure is developed, the Leaf can be quick charged while being used for errand running.

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