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Ram truck gets new V6, eight-speed transmission

The Ram pickup scheduled to be introduced in April will offer both the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 and an eight-speed transmission, according to a Chrysler Group filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The voluntary annual filing--which appeared Tuesday on the automaker's corporate Web site, chryslergroupllc.com--laid out many new features of the upcoming version of the automaker's top-selling vehicle. The new eight-speed transmission "reduces fuel consumption by up to 12 percent over our current five-speed transmissions," such as the one now in the Ram, the filing said.

Ford Start concept (w/ Gallery)

Ford unveiled the Start concept at Auto China last week. Designed at Ford's California-based Strategic Concept Group under the direction of Freeman Thomas, the concept demonstrates that a compact car can also be pragmatic and functional. "I'm an enthusiast of minimalism but it should not be cold," Thomas said of the design when we met him in Beijing.

Saab offers free iPad with pre-order of the 9-4X

Beginning in mid-January, the first 500 people to place an order for the Saab 9-4X can also receive an Apple iPad--they just have to put down $500 on top of their dealer's pre-order deposit. The iPad will be delivered two to three weeks after the order is placed, and participants will receive a $500 credit toward the 9-4X upon the vehicle's delivery. And in case a person cancels his or her order, he or she can keep the iPad.