Among the future possibilities: bridges that won't buckle under severe seismic stress, a new generation of Frank Gehry-inspired forms of improbably twisted steel, car frames that can absorb the shock of head-on collisions and, yes, knives that may never need sharpening.

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The new automatic gearbox will also blip the throttle on downshifts (in manual mode), reducing shift shock that can unsettle the car in hard cornering.

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It has good shock absorbing properties and is used to make car bumpers, crash helmets and modern golf club heads.

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Although car rental companies now quote rates including taxes, sticker shock is not uncommon when you finally see that hotel or restaurant bill.

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In Caymans equipped with the Sport Chrono package, new dynamic transmission mounts stiffen up to minimize shift-shock and to keep the otherwise-bucking powertrain from deranging the car's handling.

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Meanwhile, the oil shock, several recessions and fierce competition from Japan scraped the shine off the American car industry.

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