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

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

The K-Summit brings traction technology into the 21st century, with an advanced design that can fit around even large wheels or low profile tires.

Constructed of durable, hardened Manganese Nickel Alloy Steel, the K-Summit resembles a high-tech bear trap and hangs onto your wheel with the same ferocity, although the fact that it’s bolted to one of your lug nuts probably doesn’t hurt, either.

Handcrafted in Italy, the K-Summit is priced accordingly at about $200 a wheel.

$405 for a set of 2 from Amazon (Make sure you get the right size; search Amazon for the other sizes if that’s not the one for you.)

This is totally the geek car that we’ve all been secretly lusting after. My friend Josh got to test drive one this past week, and his very own Tesla will be delivered later this year.

Here’s a quick list of some of the reasons this is the ultimate geek car:

• 100% electric
• 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds
• Top speed of 125 (we’re sure someone is going to jailbreak this sucker though
• 13,000 rpm redline
• 220 miles per charge
• costs $0.02 (yes that’s 2 cents) per mile to drive
• did we mention it’s fast?

Can’t wait to take a ride with Josh.

The Duracell DPP-600HD is totally the thing you need in your trunk, or, if you’re like me, you need it plugged into your cigarette lighter to power your laptop and portable DVD players for the kids when you’re on a long road trip.

It will also come in very handy if you make a quick trip up into the mountains, get lost, and get buried by an avalanche, and need a power supply for a few days while they send the rescue helicopters out to look for you. Remember, the bottom of a MacBook Pro can get pretty hot if you use it a lot. With this baby all you need is your MacBook and a copy of Photoshop and some wicked PS Actions to heat you up when you get cold… and the radio will keep your mind off the ice forming on the insides of the windows, I’m sure.

Price: $99.99 from Amazon.com

This year, Saab introduced a very limited edition 9-3 that is a throw-back to the 1985 Saab 900 SPG, a classic coupe known for its trademark black exterior treatment, three-arm alloys, and turbo engine. This year’s special edition is called the Turbo X, and it’s a Dark Knight, if I’ve ever seen one.

The Turbo X is powered by a 280hp turbo-charged V-6, and thanks to the Haldex 4 all-wheel drive and rear electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) that moves the torque from side-to-side which dampens the yaw. Thanks to the Haldex 4 and eLSD, this is the first Saab I’ve ever driven that doesn’t let the steering own you when you’re mashing the accelerator down. And after my test-drive, I can tell you that this is the best handling Saab ever built.

It sits 0.4 inches lower than the Aero trim package, and has larger braker, stiffer springs and dampers, and rides like a true sports car.

The all-black exterior, and interior is amazingly apportioned, and the classic boost guage taken from the 1985 Saab 900 is nostalgic touch that will make any Saab fan feel at home. You can get the Turbo X in a Sedan or SportCombi (wagon) model for around $44,000, if you can get one. There are only 600 being delivered to the U.S.

Let’s face it: Fuel efficiency is inversely proportional to how cool a car looks.

That’s why the truly stylish and eco-conscious ditch a couple wheels and spring for a motorcycle instead, like Ducati’s sweet new Superbike 848.

The 848 is built on the same platform as Ducati’s mind-blowing 1098, but with a less racetrack-worthy motor, which would only improve the odds of killing yourself on your daily commute, anyway.

Not that the 848 is any less insane of a ride: with 134 horsepower, the 369 pound bike will smoke almost any car out there and sports a better power-to-weight ratio than Ducati’s legendary (and now retired) 999.

It’s also got some sweet Italian styling cues, including a single-sided rear swing-arm to show off its gorgeous wheel, high-mount exhaust, and tastefully executed projection headlamps.

Alas, the 848 also carries that requisite premium anything Italian and exotic does: a $13,495 price tag.

But if you had Duracell’s DPP-600HD Powerpack 600 in your trunk, you wouldn’t have to worry.

This mega-battery-to-go packs 28 amp-hours, enough juice to jump your car or provide up to 600 watts of power to electronics. What can you do with 600 watts?

• charge your cell phone for up to 35 hours
• power a laptop for up to 7 hours
• drive a 13-inch color TV for 5.5 hours
• even juice a small jigsaw for about 20 minutes

This amount of power makes the Powerpack 600 not just handy for your car, but also your campsite or area of your home or garden where a power receptacle isn’t handy.

Did we mention it also has an AM/FM clock radio and emergency light? It’s also surprisingly small: just 16.5″x11″ around its base.

Pick one up from Amazon for $109.99 and take advantage of the free shipping, important since this beast weighs about 25 pounds.

If you don’t need all that juice, you can spring for the more affordable Duracell DPP-300EP Powerpack 300 ($74.99), which delivers half the power in a smaller package. It also trades the jumper cables for an air compressor, a feature we wish they could have put in the Powerpack 600, as well.

You wouldn’t think this would be too difficult, especially for someone as tech savvy as me, but the number of GPS units targeted at general consumers is ludicrous; just scope out all the automotive models Garmin offers (hint: there’s about 35). Even if you exclude the high-end models ($400 and up) you’re still left with a dizzying array of choices that seem to vary by only one feature.

So let me save you some time and direct you to the model I finally settled on: the nüvi 360. What’s so good about this one?

• 3.5-inch display
• full maps of the U.S. (AK, HI, and Puerto Rico included) and Canada
• 6 million + points of interest
• voice directions with street names
• SD card slot supports displaying photos or playing MP3s
• Bluetooth

That last feature is the real kicker, as the nüvi 360 is the cheapest of Garmin’s GPS units to include Bluetooth, which allows you to make and answer calls through the unit and use its speaker for hands-free calling.

The best part is you only pay a little more for some of the features the 360 packs (like voice directions with street names) than the lower models. The MP3 playback support also guarantees I’ll be able to listen to audiobooks even when I’m in a crappy rental car with only a radio or a moving truck.

About the only thing the 360 doesn’t have that I wish it did is a widescreen 4.3-inch display option, like the cheaper 200w and 250w models, and the high-end nüvi 600- and 700-series. If you want that, and the features the 360 packs, you’ll need to spring for the nüvi 660, which costs more than $100 extra (about $350 from Amazon).

Price: Amazon sells the nüvi 360 for just $179 with free shipping.

By the way, I’m not the only one who thinks the 360 rocks: it has a 4.5 rating on Amazon based on 800+ reviews, snagged a 4.5 rating from PC Magazine back in 2006 when it debuted, and was named “Best Value” by PC World in their February 2008 issue that pitted it against four other GPS units.

While fuel prices in the U.S. still aren’t as high as they were in Europe five years ago, Americans are definitely not the ones laughing anymore. With fuel approaching $4/gallon and most SUVs struggling to go 15 miles on that gallon, the idea of being green and efficient has finally started to catch on in the U.S.

And, thankfully, so too has the smart car.

Smart’s fortwo (as in, for two people) is slowly rolling onto American streets, starting at modest $11,590. The 1.0L, 3-cylinder engine is dwarfed by those found in even some motorcycles, but with 70HP it’s “fast enough”, topping out at 90 mph and taking you from 0-60 mph in a leisurely 12.8 seconds.

Fuel economy is rated at 33/41 mpg (city/highway) using the EPA’s 2008 standards, which means you’ll very likely see those numbers in the real world, if not better (using the EPA’s 2007 standard, fuel economy jumps to 40/45, but that’s based on less-than-realistic driving parameters).

Keep in mind that despite its Benz roots, the smart car is totally bare bones. Extras like AC ($600), radio ($350-$495), and power steering ($450) are standard on virtually every car today. But there are some luxury options, too, like heated seats ($220) and a panorama roof ($350).

Or, for a few grand more, smart offers two upgraded models of the fortwo: the passion coupe for $13,590 that includes a list of popular options many would want, and the passion cabriolet, which sells for $16,590 and can lose its roof when desired.

The smart car is available in a number of color options and easily removable door panels means you can even mix and match them down the road. And for those concerned about its dimensions, it’s more spacious inside than you’d think. This one’s a grow-er, not a show-er.

Cobra’s XRS R9G represents the pinnacle of Cobra’s radar detectors. While the Cobra brand doesn’t have the legendary rep that Valentine, Beltronics (STI model) or Escort (Passport 9500 model) might, the XRS R9G is trying hard to change that.

To that end, Cobra has packed a number of slick features into this thing: GPS, so it can remember where you have marked false signals (by a shopping center, for example), a traffic-light and speed camera database so you know where the hidden ones lurk, and the ability to recognize your speed and mute itself if you’re going below a preset limit.

Does this make the XRS R9G worth $450 (about the same as other top-of-the-line detectors)? I’m not sure, but fortunately we don’t have to figure that out, as Amazon stocks it for a mere $257.90. Woot!

BMW’s, meanwhile, haven’t been that exclusive since Steve Urkel drove an Isetta on Family Matters (bucking the status quo!).

But the BMW 1 series changes that.

Europeans have had the 1 since 2004, but only in the more practical 5-door hatch configuration. Maybe BMW thought fitting five Americans in a 1 series would be impossible, but for its U.S. debut it elected to deliver sprightly new coupe and convertible models.

The lowly 128i will tap the piggy bank for a sliver under $30,000 (before taxes and other gotchas), but winners will pay the 20 percent premium and go for the twin-turbo 135i which puts out 300HP.

And in a nod to early adopters: all 2008 1-series feature an exclusive start/stop button engraved with “Year One of the 1″. Which will either turn the model into a collector’s item or, more likely, serve as a warning to future used car buyers that whatever quirks and tweaks came in the second and third year of the car are still lovingly there in this one.