My car, my friend.(development of concept car The Pod)

From: Weekly Reader, Edition 2 (including Science Spin) | Date: February 22, 2002 | Copyright information

The Pod wants to be its owner's friend. The Pod is the first car that can show its feelings. This new kind of car can smile, cry, and even get angry by lighting up in different colors.

People from the two companies that built the Pod say the car is a lot like a pet. radio antenna is made to look like a wagging tail!

Cute and Careful

The Pod might help its owner drive more carefully, too. The Pod compares the driver's ability to that of an expert driver. Words of praise or warning then show up on a screen ...

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Toyota Pod Is Out of This World.
; ...4--TOKYO--If the Toyota Pod concept car is wearing its red disgusted...environment and react to it, the Pod is something of a pet car that expresses its own feelings...that you want to pass the car ahead. If that driver yields, your Pod wags its tail in thanks...
Toyota to unveil its sublime Pod at sublime Chicago auto show.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
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More smiles per gallon; The 'feeling' car that can grin at you (or burst into tears).
; ...orange-yellow beam. The car opens the door, and...the engine and the Pod falls in height and...red. And when the car is very happy, its rear antenna wags. The Pod has been likened to...driver handles the car, it compensates to...optimal handling. The Pod does this by softening...
Peace in a Pod; Cheshire man is behind Japanese concept car that can play soothing music to fast drivers and tell if you're happy or sad.(News)
; ...motorist is driving too fast. The Toyota Pod car also has lights which change colour...for cars of the future. The Toyota Pod concept car is the latest brainchild from the...alongside more wacky concepts. The Pod car has seats which can be moved around...
Car that cries - and wags tail
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This little car has 'feelings,' too.(Features)(Work & Money)
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What's new: HAND OF POD FROM TOYOTA; Japanese giants' smart car can act on your mood.(Fastlane)
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Mood-mobile: Pod makes driving an emotional experience.
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This Toyota car is something of a dog.(new Pod car resembles Sony Aibo robotic dog)(Brief Article)
; ...more than a year developing the Pod. The result undoubtedly will be the most popular car of the Tokyo show. The Pod's face resembles that of the...slits or tilting in sorrow. The car can even cry, with blue lights...down like a dog's tail. The Pod is controlled by a sort of ...
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