As a result, your 20-year-old automatic car may have a smoother feel than a new model.

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The AK-47, for example, is widely available to private citizens around the U.S. as a semi-automatic version (firing one shot each time the trigger is pulled), but the military grade fully automatic (continuous fire while the trigger is depressed) model is illegal almost everywhere.

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Cadillac's next generation CTS, due out later this year, will be 244 pounds lighter than the current model, and will offer an eight-speed automatic transmission.

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