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CES: GM to open the dashboard to developers

At last year's Autoweek Design Forum, father of the iPod and Nest Labs co-founder Tony Fadell suggested that automakers concentrate on designing and building cars, leaving handset makers to handle infotainment. The latest announcements from Ford and GM -- in conjunction with the International CES -- suggest that automakers would rather treat the dashboard space as a handset. Yesterday, Dearborn, Mich., announced the Ford Developer Program, which opens up Sync to outside application development; now General Motors has announced a similar initiative.

Porsche to build 918 Spyder

Porsche today announced that it will build the 918 Spyder, a road legal version of the 718bhp hybrid sports car that made its debut at the Geneva motor show last year. The company says the hybrid sports car will be limited to just 918 examples and be offered in left-hand drive only in order to ensure exclusivity of the new model. Based on a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic monocoque, the 918 Spyder's design DNA is derived from the Carrera GT and Porsche 917 race car as well as the RS Spyder.

Ferrari Exhibit: Cavallino Rampante

On the weekend of October 11, the San Diego Automotive Museum celebrated its 20th Anniversary by hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a special exhibit, Ferrari: Cavallino Rampante - Italy's Prancing Horse. The Saturday evening event was the grand opening reception for 15 rare Ferraris on exhibit, joined by designs created by retired automobile designers and local high school students.  The extravagant evening celebration also served as a finale of two-day Ferrari Road Rally event, inviting owners of Ferraris from various eras to show their cars - which ranged from a 1967 275 GTB and 1968 Dino to a 360 Challenge Stradale. Over a dozen Ferraris parked in front of the museum served as a pleasant prelude to some of marque's memorable examples displayed inside: a collection of rare Ferraris that includes a 1952 212 Europa, 1955 250 Boano Prototipo, 1956 250 GT Zagato, 1957 250 Testarossa, 1959 410 Super America and 1965 275 GTB/Competizione.