GenevaMotorShow2010
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Nokia's Terminal Mode spotted in the wilds of the Geneva Motor Show
Those lovely people over at Nokia have furnished us with a few images of what their dashboard integration will look like, as well as the names of a few more partners for the Terminal Mode initiative. Intended to smarten up your car's hardware with the phone's capabilities -- whether that be to play back music, use Ovi Maps, browse the web, or whatever else -- this was announced in partnership with Alpine yesterday, but today we're hearing that Fiat, Harman Becker and Valmet Automotive are also getting in on the fun. The gallery below shows off a mockup from Valmet, which plops your Nokia into a cradle just under the Eva concept's "on" button, and then transfers all the important stuff onto an LCD integrated into the dashboard above. Nokia tells us that each OEM will have their own particular design, so this might not be how they'll all look, but as far as ease of use goes, we don't know how you can improve much on what's being shown already. Let's just hope the software is as effective as the presentation is handsome.%Gallery-87345%
Porsche 918 Spyder concept is the most beautiful hybrid we've ever seen
Um, we're sure there's something sensible to be said about this Porsche concept, but we're not altogether capable of coherent expression at present. We want to own one of these so badly, we don't even care if it has an engine. And boy does the 918 Spyder have an engine. A 3.4-liter V8 petrol burner is combined with electric motors to put out 500bhp, while featuring the mind-altering acceleration to go from a standing start to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds. Topping out at 198mph and offering a very respectable 78mpg fuel economy, this is pretty much the stuff dreams are made, which is quite naturally why you shouldn't expect to see it in any purchasable form any time soon. If you do care to see more of it, however, you can do so at the Geneva Motor Show this year or just past the break, the choice is yours. [Thanks, Zach]
Honda shows off three-wheeled 3R-C concept vehicle
Dig the idea of something like GM's P.U.M.A. personal transporter but wish it would make you want to say pew pew pew whenever you're driving? Then feast your eyes on the Honda 3R-C concept that's just been announced in advance of the Geneva Motor Show. Nothing even approaching a roll-out date, as you might expect, but the three-wheeled vehicle would apparently use a battery electric drivetrain mounted low in the chassis for improved stability, and it even includes a bit of room for storage in the front, along with a clear canopy that apparently shifts to a windshield to give the "pilot" a bit more headroom. Not much else in the way of details, unfortunately, but Honda might have a bit more to say after its official unveiling in Geneva next week.
Mercedes-Benz F800 Style teases us with fuel cells, aggressive new look
Mercedes has just announced its latest "research vehicle," the F800 Style, and as concepts are wont to do, it intersperses some extremely ambitious goals with plenty of viable and forthcoming improvements. The two powertrain options touted by the company represent this best. On the one hand, there's a perfectly reasonable PHEV setup that will generate north of 400bhp combined grunt and offer an 18-mile range when abstaining from gas power. On the other, there's an electric drive with fuel cells system that will get you a spectacular 375-mile cruising range -- if only it'd make it to real products, which seems highly unlikely right now. All the same, as the company's premium sedan concept, the F800 Style represents the direction of Mercedes' future designs, both in its external styling and in the internal focus on becoming friendlier to the environment. We can find little reason to object to either. Check out a couple more pics after the break, then hit Autoblog for more details.
Volvo S60 features pedestrian tracking, ten years too late for Lizzie Grubman
We've recently espied some new video detailing Volvo's pedestrian detection system, and while some of this info has been out for a while now we figure it's certainly more than cool enough to warrant a quick look. According to a freshly minted press release, the technology is being featured on the upcoming S60, which -- in addition to the newest in collision detection and auto-braking -- can spot pedestrians who step in front of the car, warn the driver, and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time. Vehicles traveling under 22 MPH should be able to come to a complete stop, while anything traveling faster than that will see its speed significantly reduced. You can get an up close and personal look at it this March at the Geneva Motor Show. In the mean time, there's a video and some PR after the break to tide you over. [Thanks, Drew S.]
