. . .
Once in this traffic-free lane the Volkswagen tilts into a super-aerodynamic shape to achieve speeds in excess of 250 miles per hour. When parked, the Slipstream feeds power back into the grid with its hyper-efficient solar panels (perhaps to fuel other robots that can make us a club sandwich.
To the team behind the Slipstream went the award –- a menacing robot hand. By accepting and guarding this hand now, VW's Ian Hilton, Derek Jenkins and Patrick Faulwetter will protect against an unfortunate future of robots that don't like us ruled by Skynet, or freeways jammed solid with Chevy Aveos.
The Governator himself -- seen elsewhere at the L.A. Auto Show -- was not on hand for this one but was no doubt keeping a glowing red eye on future robot-oriented transportation developments. The Design Los Angeles Challenge will be back for a fifth year in 2008.
Humor at LA Autoshow
