Update: Google self-driving car is really just a transportation pod

Google will launch its own fleet of autonomous vehicle prototypes – with no steering wheels and no gas or brake pedals – as the technology giant begins a new phase of its self-driving car project. Google designed the car and plans to have about 100 test vehicles that are fully autonomous with extra safety features, company co-founder Sergey Brin said during a conference Tuesday hosted by technology blog Re/code in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. > See how Google's autonomous car navigates city streets here The New York Times reported Tuesday night that a Detroit-area manufacturer is building the cars for Google, which declined to name the manufacturer, according to the Times' story.

VW Passat Alltrack: UK price & spec revealed

VW Passat Alltrack - starts at £28,475 Volkswagen has revealed price and specifications for the VW Passat Alltrack. Arrives in the UK in May from £28,475. Volkswagen revealed the VW Passat Alltrack, a 4WD rufty-tufty, jacked-up Passat Estate back in November ahead of a public debut in Tokyo, and the promise of the first Alltracks in showrooms by April.

BMW X6 (2007): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 16 December 2007 00:01 These are the first official pictures of the BMW X6, one of 2008’s most intriguing cars. It’s a 4x4 with a coupé body, seriously high performance engines including a 407bhp twin-tubocharged V8 and a trick diff to give it a flavour of the M division’s finest. The X6 is based on the X5's chassis and shares its wheelbase, but its around 20mm lower and has a wider track, to enhance its dynamic ability.   It’s certainly the sportiest SUV so far.