Stuff Geeks Want

Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. German for ‘dual-clutch’. It’s the reason the seven-speed gearbox on the Porsche 911 Turbo does zero to 60mph in 3.2 seconds. Impressive.

This monster of power has a 500-hp, 3.8-liter directed injected flat-six. Thanks to direct injection and the more efficient automatic transmission, mileage improves to a very impressive 24.8 mpg. Cool on the new model: dynamic engine mounts. First seen on the new GT3, these are filled with a magnetorheological fluid that can be adjusted for comfort or sport, depending on how the car is being driven.

Moreover, the new 2010 Turbo will be available with Porsche Torque Vectoring, an option that complements the standard traction and stability control systems. PTV’s mechanical limited-slip center differential actively distributes power fore and aft to greatly improve the car’s ability to exit corners with lots of throttle.

It’s a substantial update the keep Porsche, well, Porsche.

Buy for $132,800 from Porsche

If your car is a frequent business-trip companion, consider the Autonet Mobile router. Installed into the trunk, it creates a personal Wi-Fi, 3G hot spot anywhere.

Multiple devices can share the Internet without slowing its speed. You connect wirelessly to the Autonet access point in exactly the same way you would for a stationary access point. Speeds will depend on the data size as well as the strength of your cellular signal, but reports are its competitive with portable, handheld devices like an iPhone.

Autonet Mobile is about to become much more common: It’s now an add-on option for Cadillac, Chrysler, and VW. The monthly subscription fee is $29 a month.

Buy for $390 from Amazon

There’s a bunch of new stuff under the hood from Audi. The 2010 Audi S5 has added a new soft-top Cabriolet with a supercharged V6, but the real rush is the classy V8 coupe. If you want a luxury performance coupe or convertible, the S5 belongs on your short list.

The coupe’s 4.2-liter V8 churns out 354 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission is standard on the coupe, and a six-speed automatic with manual shift control is optional, which can transfer torque during cornering to reduce understeer. The manual-transmission will get you from zero to 60 mph in a pace-quickening five seconds.

The S5′s attractive and high-quality cabin is one of its strong points. The front sport seats are excellent for both enthusiastic driving and long-distance cruising. There’s little doubt it’s a sharp-handling car, with tenacious AWD traction.

Buy Starting at $52,400 from Audi

The 2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante continues to leave James Bond proud although a little wind blown. Yes, the DBS coupe has gone rag top, opening and closing we’re told in as little as 14 seconds.

A hand-built, 517 horsepower, six-litre, V12 engine powers you to 60 in 4.3 seconds, and then on to 191 mph. The automatic six-speed Touchtronic gearbox purrs you through the gears – either a six-speed manual transmission or an optional ZF-sourced six-speed automatic.

Not to skimp on amenities, it includes a Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, iPod connector, and sumptuous leather trim as standard equipment.

Starting at $282,500 for the manual and $286,500 for the automatic, it’s simply narvana on wheels.

It’s been a long time in waiting and much-anticipated. The Acura ZDX is the more stylish offspring of the seven-passenger MDX. It’s lower by about six inches and seats five but uses the same 300 horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine and it’s all-wheel drive.

The interior of every ZDX will feature leather seating surfaces, and occupants will get plenty of light from above via the standard full-length glass roof. You might notice those huge pillars on each side and wonder about the effort in looking back to change lanes. Acura’s got you covered there…a blind-spot information system, as well as a multi-angle rear-view camera.

The lower ride height together with its sleek exterior lines and sportiness brings some promise of a sweet ride in what Acura calls “a whole new level of prestige”. Arriving early next year at a base price of $44,000, consumers should expect nothing less.

The new Ferrari 458 Italia isn’t just a car, it’s an object of worship.

The new two-seat, rear-wheel drive, mid-engined Italia was co-developed with racing legend Michael Schumacher. No wonder it hits a top speed of 202mph – a first for a volume production Ferrari – and zero to 62 in 3.5 seconds thanks to its direct-injected 4.5L V8 engine that pumps 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque.

The main controls, including gearshift and traction controls, will be on the steering wheel, just like an F1 car. And did we fail to mention it’s green? Yup, they’ve improved the aerodynamic drag so compared to the out-going F430, it gets 21mpg.

Ferrari North America has yet to confirm pricing for the U.S. market, but a leaked document puts it at around $240,000 at today’s exchange rate. Kick in those cash reserves.

Buy for $240,000 from Ferrari

We’re seeing a slew of electric car being previewed at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but few are being guaranteed as real production vehicles for the future. This is one of the exceptions. It’s the Fluence Z.E. from Renault (Z.E. standing for zero-emissions).

It’s targeted at the single-car family who wants a vehicle for every day use to work, but wants to go to the country on the weekends. It’s an electric version of the five-seat Fluence sedan with a range of 100 miles and will be the first to make it into production in early 2011, Renault said.

Renault also unveiled a “Quickdrop” system, which would allow batteries to be swapped out in three minutes at special battery stations. Otherwise, the vehicle will take four hours to eight hours to charge via a socket, or they can get a quick charge in 20 minutes.

It will initially be available in Israel and Europe, but Renault has said it has plans to release the vehicle in North America.

Electric bikes are back, with a ton of new tech and style points to boot. Take the Ultra Motor A2B (because it gets you from point A to point B, get it?!). It has a 500-watt, 2/3 horsepower electric motor and cruises along at 20 mph.

Other key facts: Shimano Alivio derailleur, Hayes disc brakes, full suspension with an aluminum frame, an over-sized saddle for greater comfort, and a rear suspension that drop 2.5 inches to make potholes easier on the rear end (your rear end).

It’s got a 36 volt lithium ion battery that gives you a 20-mile range, but you can add a second battery for even greater distance. Full charging time is a little over three hours.

Don’t think an electric bike is right for you? Keep these two things in mind: (1) It takes about 11 cents to charge the A2B for 20 miles…a helluva lot cheaper than gas and (2) the U.S. Department of Transportation says nearly half of all trips people take each day are less than three miles. Hmmmmmm.

Buy for $2700 from Amazon

TomTom has announced two new models that ready to order. The XXL 530S and XXL 540S (shown above) are aptly named for their big-size, five-inch touchscreens. The both come with US and Canada maps standard, and TomTom’s own IQ Routes technology (same technology they’re using in their iPhone app) which uses historical road usage data to predict when and where jams will happen and then re-route you a different way. The The 540S adds advanced lane guidance, maps of Mexico, a sleeker design with a black finish and seven million points of interests.

Buy the XXL 530S for $280 from Amazon

Buy the XXL 540S for $300 from Amazon

Nothing like having air at your fingertips for tires, footballs, weather balloons, etc. The AirPro Cordless Air Compressor does the trick and pumps out 120 psi.

It’s got an extended 15-inch air hose with a locking Schraeder head, an analog gauge on its back side, two LED lights on the front so you can what you’re doing on that dark road, a cordless rechargeable batter pack with wall charger and comes with a 12-volt DC power pack.

Buy for $70 from Amazon