The eight-speed Tiptronic transmission slips through the gears seamlessly, with the center console-mounted gearshift providing sequential manual access to each cog.

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Recently, for example, Chrysler notified almost 24, 000 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 owners of a free software fix to dim the light on the gearshift knob.

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The Ram's gearshift selector is a rotary dial mounted vertically to the right of the steering wheel, and I, for one, found it pretty friendly to operate.

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The lines of these wood accents "flow" from the sporty gearshift area and ascend the center console and across the lower instrument panel to the door trim, playing a large role in defining the interior space in the front of the vehicle.

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Rather than faux leather and relatively spartan trimmings (which, I admit, is admirable in many cases), S60 comes with a leather sport steering wheel and gearshift, a power glass moonroof, active dual xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, illuminated controls, Bluetooth and audio streaming.

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