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There is a reality that is hard to escape; if you want to conserve energy regarding transportation, it helps to reduce the mass one needs to transport.

As technical editor Don Sherman implied when he reviewed these updated trucks, the Colorado/Canyon twins should have been launched like this--with a small-block V-8 under the hood instead of the weakling four-cylinder or the not-much-better in-line five. The V-8-powered Colorado now has increased towing and hauling capabilities, and it's significantly quicker than its fewer-cylindered stablemates (less than seven seconds to 60 mph, according to both Sherman and General Motors). But what really struck me is the fantastic sound of the 5.3-liter V-8. Floor it between about 2500 and 4500 rpm, and the mill just roars. I actually opened the sliding rear window just so I could hear a less insulated rendition of the motor music. I even think this Colorado deserves more prominent tailpipes (big-tipped, straight dual exhausts, anyone?) to announce its power; I blew away a GMC Canyon at a light, but I don't think the other driver had a clue about what had happened.

At SAE 2009, in the basement of Detroit's aging Cobo Center, I met Jon Bereisa, Director of GM's Fuel Cell Propulsion program. I had just completed a drive in one of the hydrogen-powered Chevrolet Equinox SUVs.

One standard of the utopian vision for civilization's future is clean, low-impact, personal transportation. The Segway scooter seemed to embody much of that vision, but with a price starting at $5,000, the geeky looking gyro-balanced scooter hasn't quite taken the nation's sidewalks by storm.

Now this is what a luxury SUV should be. The Range Rover is fast - especially between 40 and 80 mph - its power delivery is velvety smooth, and its suspension tuning is nearly perfect. It's amazing how well the Range Rover smooths out rough surfaces and even potholes while still being able to tackle the most extreme off-road tasks. The steering is communicative and nicely weighted without being too heavy at low speeds. The turning radius is also impressive.

At the 2009 Geneva motor show, rumor had it that BMW's 5-series Gran Turismo concept, a shapely convergence of sedan, wagon, and hatchback, was a good look at a forthcoming production model. Hindsight proves those rumors true-you're looking at the production-intent 2010 BMW 5-series Gran Turismo, which mirrors the concept down to the awkward "GT" badge on its rump.