While the degree of control still isn't as precise as a manual transmission, just changing the shift points can make a vehicle feel like it's suddenly grown a much bigger engine.

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The vehicle represents a marked shift at General Motors as the company tries to wrestle a reputation for high technology back from its archrival Toyota.

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The vehicle represents a marked shift at General Motors (nyse: GM - news - people ) as the company tries to wrestle a reputation for high technology back from its archrival Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people ).

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This shift is expected to continue and will result in lower vehicle lease expense costs which will thus improve EBITDA margins.

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Plus, he said, it has already developed the vehicle platforms, engines and transmissions to make the product shift possible.

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