Based on the motto "Are you gaming or are you driving?", the OnStar Car Hero Concept is GM's entry for the LA Design Challenge 2009. "It is a vehicle and a game... it turns driving into gaming and challenges your skills against the car's autonomous system."

"Imagine a gaming experience which can actually teach a beginner to drive or challenge the experienced... whether you're a lowbie or a legend, Car Hero takes "getting there" to a whole new level."

Getting started is easy. Just enter your destination into the navi app on your smart phone and the car takes care of the rest. It lets you "play along" and try to match the skill level of the system.

As you get better, the Car Hero "unlocks" vehicle control to the point where the autonomous system is overridden and you're in complete control.

This is where things get interesting. As the Car Hero gamer demonstrates skill and mastery, the vehicle's "transmorphable" architecture turns up the intensity by creating an increasingly challenging driving experience.

Car Hero's configuration rewards your skills by gradually changing from a four, to three, to the ultimate challenge, a single wheeled vehicle. Your talent determines how outrageous it gets and where it lets you go.

Car Hero also features P2P apps like "Friends Drive" where anyone can come along for a digital joyride, think of it as Twitter with wheels.

"For those bored and stuck in yet another LA Sigalert, "Fantasy Drive" gives you access to insane environments such as running with the bulls in Pamplona or taking on Ken Block in a drift contest... down a black diamond at Mammoth!"

GM Car Hero Concept - Information

Designers:

• Frank Saucedo
• Thamer Hannona
• Shawn Moghadam
• Julius Bernardo
• Jussi Timonen
• Steve Anderson

(Source: LA Design Challenge)