This line of computer-driven cars traveling at 65 miles per hour is a powerful demonstration of how close we may be to automated driving. NOVA: Why are you doing this? Thorpe: This is hard work ...

In our tests, we've found that in some cars a manual transmission can improve gas mileage by a significant 2 to 5 mpg, compared with an automatic, and can cut a car's price by $800 to $1,200.

Partially automated driving systems -- such as adaptive cruise control and technologies that keep a car in its lane or automate lane changes -- are increasingly common in new vehicle models.

Though manual shifting (with paddle shifters) is now a common feature, the automatic functionality and lack of a third pedal mean that a car is an automatic. Over the years, automatic ...