Imagine a car that challenges you to be a better driver. General Motors' concept for the LA Auto Show Design Challenge is a vehicle that becomes more challenging as the driver becomes more skilled - blurring the boundaries between gaming and driving.

It starts off as an autonomous transport system, controlled by entering the destination on a Smartphone. While travelling, the car encourages control inputs to match what the car is doing. As the driver becomes more accomplished the driver gets more control of the vehicle until the autonomous element is completely overridden.

The architecture of the car is transformable too. As the driver masters various aspects of control it goes from four to three wheels and eventually becomes a single-wheeled vehicle - with the driver sat inside the giant wheel.

The concept also includes peer-to-peer 'applications' where friends can come along for a virtual drive or where the driver can pretend to take part in a drifting competition. It all sounds rather strange to traditional car enthusiasts but will probably seem natural to the next generation.

The LA Auto Show runs from 4th to 13th December.

John Lambert - 9 Nov 2009