MobileBurn has great images of a tricked-out Camry hybrid in the Nokia booth at CES. Nokia painted the car a cool green with white trees and added a slew of Nokia products. I contacted Nokia and Keith Nowak told me, "At each trade show, we generally do have a car in our booth to use as a platform for some of our automotive products - like handsfree kits and navigation devices. This year, since we are highlighting some of our environmental efforts as well, we decided that we would use a hybrid vehicle to stay in the theme - in this case, a Toyota Camry Hybrid."

Fitting the green theme perfectly is Nokia's 3110 Evolve cell phone and eco sensor concept which are also at the show. While very cool, I am not sure I can approve of the energy drain to the car's battery caused by these un-essential devices. Except for that Nokia internet tablet which is really cool and therefore essential.

Related:

• Frankfurt 2007 videos: Fiat ecoDrive, Peugeot Flux, Chevy Trax
• CarChip E/X: a great gadget to teach green driving
• Beep-beep! TPMS-lite tire cap blinks when tire pressure drops

[Source: MobileBurn, Nokia]

In reporting on the trend in the automotive market to add dashboard electronics to non-luxury cars, PhysOrg points out that "pimping your ride" is now virtually mainstream. Regular consumers are reportedly ignoring engine size and other traditional benchmarks for a vehicle's value in preference for a burgeoning fascination for gadgets such as heated cup holders, rear parking cameras, iPod integration kits and voice-activated navigation systems. Well if that's the case, let's push the auto makers to trick out their hybrids and other green vehicles to help drive even more sales.

Analysis: If hybrid, plug-in electric, fuel-cell and flex-fuel technologies are the 'next generation' of automotive technology, then surely vehicles based on them should be next generation too? Load them up with so many gadgets you'd need extra fuel-cells on board to run the show. I don't know about you but I'd love to see a pimped Prius.

Related:

• ZAP releases details and drawings of their impending 644 horsepower ZAP-X electric SUV
• Toyota hybrids sell briskly in February; Prius sets all-time monthly record
• Geneva Motor Show: Toyota Hybrid-X concept

[Source: PhysOrg]