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BMW's polarizing new 5-Series Gran Turismo hits U.S. dealerships on December 5th, with the 550i GT model being the only variant initially offered. The base price? $64,725. Look for an xDrive variant to come early next year, as well as the 535i GT, featuring an all-new turbocharged inline-six (not the twin-turbo six that we've grown oh so fond of in recent years).

This MSRP slots the 550i GT between the V-8-powered X6 and 750i, but things can start to get rather pricey when options are tacked on. We highly recommend the sport package ($4200) and the optional twenty-inch wheels ($1000), as they vastly improve the 5GT's overall appearance and driving dynamics. Be sure to grab the luxury rear seating package, too ($3950) as it's one of the nicest BMW rear setups we've ever sat in. Seriously -- it's more luxurious than a long-wheelbase 7-Series.

For the full press release and options list, click through the post. And in the meantime, be sure to read our review of the 550i Gran Turismo in the latest issue of Winding Road.

+ First Drive: 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo

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Mazda has announced that the North American spec Mazda2 (known in Japan as the Demio) will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month. The subcompact hatchback has been successful  in other parts of the world, and will begin to be offered in the U.S. and Canada late next year.

Does this, as well as the arrival of the Ford Fiesta, spell a new trend in the future U.S. auto market?

See the Japanese version in the gallery above, or scroll down for the press release from Honda.

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Porsche has announced the 911 GT3 R. Based on the GT3 Cup S, it is powered by a 480-horsepower, 4.0-liter flat-six. Porsche promises better driveability and easier handling than its predecessor, thanks to ABS, traction control, and throttle blip, making it “more appropriate for the ambitious amateur racing driver.”

The 911 GT3 R is scheduled to debut on January 14, 2010 at the Birmingham Motor Show. It is priced at the current equivalent of $414,950.

See it in the gallery above, or read the press release below.

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Lately, we’ve seen many examples of updated BMWs coming through the espionage pipeline. These latest spy shots, though, aren’t just another appearance update.

Take a close look at the sticker on the window and under the license plate. It reads, in plain English, “Hybrid Test Vehicle.” Caught in Munich, the 1-series appears to be following in the tire tracks of the 7-Series and X6 ActiveHybrid models we have already seen.

We’ll be sure to keep you posted with any more news on the 1-Series hybrid.

Click through the gallery above to see the BMW 1-Series hybrid prototype, or scroll down for the shooter’s comments.

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-Palm Springs, California

We're fresh from the driver's seat of the newest addition to the Lancer Evo fast family, the mildly more grown up MR Touring model. Mitsubishi has got a lot happening at its event in Palm Springs, California this afternoon (stay tuned for much more from this desert trip in coming days), but we felt we'd be remiss if we didn't check in with a few quick thoughts about the new Evo.

CLICK HERE to continue reading this review.

The video below is of the Autonomous Audi TTS, a project with the goal of creating a TTS that drives itself. Click here for more information about the project.

+ NextAutos: Autonomous Audi TTS Drives Itself, Aims For Pike's Peak

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Audi, in what seems to be another step toward making humans obsolete, is developing an Autonomous Audi TTS, which may drive itself up Pike’s Peak late next year.

Audi promises, though, that the project “isn’t aimed at making motorists and the thrill of driving dispensable.” We believe you Audi, and we breathe a sigh of relief. The Autonomous TTS is meant to help improve driver assistance technologies, and what better way to do that than to create a car that needs no driver at all. Amazing what a GPS, drive-by-wire controls, and a big dose of math can achieve.

Click through the gallery above to see the Autonomous Audi TTS, or scroll down through the press release for more details. Click here to see the video.

These four hatchbacks are up to something, and we aim to find out what. See how these four fiery hatches behave when we bring them together to see who is the hottest. Plus, don’t miss all the other great content in this issue of Winding Road, including:

- 2010 BMW 5-Series GT
- 2010 Aston Martin Rapide
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
- Honda Fit vs. Smart ForTwo
- Living History: BMW M5 at the Nürburgring
- $40K Alternatives: Hyundai Genesis vs. Acura TL SH-AWD vs. Ford Taurus SHO
- SEMA 2009

This issue is packed with much, much more, so check it out in one of our two formats.

CLICK HERE to read this issue in our online viewer.
CLICK HERE to download an ad-free PDF from NextNewsStand.

And don't forget, you can buy a full subscription to Winding Road by clicking here. One year of ad-free, downloadable PDFs can be yours for the low, low price of only $4.99.

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We drive the 2010 Altima Coupe, Sentra Sedan, and Versa Hatchback back-to-back-to-back to see what the refreshed line is made of.

—Nashville, Tennessee

For 2010, a good portion of Nissan’s lineup has been refreshed. The Altima, Sentra, and Versa, were updated to compete with the ever-expanding sedan market. It had been a while since we’ve been behind the wheel of these three models, so we went down to Nissan’s American headquarters among the rolling, green hills of Tennessee to reacquaint ourselves, and to see what each model had to offer.

2010 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S

Definitely the sportiest of the Nissan news in terms of appearance was the 2010 Altima coupe, which drew us immediately. We admit, it’s a good-looking car. It appears confident, but not without a level of restraint. It still has the same form as the sedan, which itself is sleek yet not approaching aggressive. The wheelbase is shorter, and its more compact footprint and two-door profile give a hint of speed to the curve of the cabin.

CLICK HERE to continue reading this review.

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Today, Hyundai unveiled its first gasoline direct injection engine, the 2.4 Theta II GDI. The 2.4-liter engine, in its current, Korean spec, offers 198 horsepower at 6300 rpm, and 184 pound-feet of torque at 4250 rpm.

Besides its improved output, direct injection lowers emissions and improves fuel economy.

The 2.4 Theta II GDI will see its first application in the first half of 2010 in the Hyundai Sonata. The GDI technology will then spread to other gasoline engines in the Hyundai lineup.

We’re glad to see Hyundai, as well as other manufacturers, bring back the mainstream use of direct injection technology. Learn more about direct injection here, or check out our Direct Injection Buyer’s Guide , listing current models on sale that use the technology.

See Hyundai’s new direct injection engine in the gallery above, or scroll down for the press release.