









Social networkers, Ford has created a car just for you. The Ford Evos plug-in hybrid concept vehicle is so smart, it can socially network with its driver's friends and recommend roads and routes that might be quickest or the most fun to drive.

The vehicle's designers want the car to always be connected to the cloud, which will allow it to know the driver's work schedule, constantly keep tabs on traffic and weather conditions, and assist and monitor the driver in an attempt to "enable a seamless lifestyle between home, office and car linked by access to the driver’s personal information."

This sporty four-seat concept car was first rolled out in Germany this week. The Evos will debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

According to Ford, the vehicle gives its driver the ability to tap into this "personal cloud" of information at any time — for example, picking up where the driver left off on that favorite song he or she was listening to inside the house. The vehicle's smart systems monitor its driver's "physical state and workload," adjusting the car's handling, heating, cooling and music to suit the driver's level of alertness, perhaps even keeping him from falling asleep.

We especially like its ability to pre-cool or preheat the car, making sure it's set at the driver's favorite temperature by the time he plops down into its spectacular-looking interior. A Ford spokesperson says, "The car gets to know you and can act as a personal assistant to handle some of the usual routines of a daily commute."

We think that's cool, and it might reduce the driver distraction we've experienced while driving Ford's current crop of SYNC-equipped vehicles that act like rolling smartphones. But some drivers might find all that computerized attention and personalized assistance a bit creepy at first.

Speaking of looks, take a look at the gallery below and notice its Angry Birds-like face with its narrow LED eyes and raised grill. It looks sporty to the point of being almost scary. And like many concept cars, this one has gull-wing doors that we expect might be too impractical to make it into a real-world car.

Sign us up! Not so fast. Will we be able to drive this car anytime soon? Alas, Ford says no, the company intends to use the ideas incorporated into this futuristic vehicle in many of its upcoming cars you'll see on showroom floors. Even so, it gives us a tantalizing peek into the cars of the future, and if Ford doesn't build this car, someone else will.

Ford Evos Concept Car

Graphics courtesy Ford