The Precept marks the leading edge of technology, and its design will have a strong influence on future cars. When the Ikonos satellite settled into orbit last fall, it marked a new era of space imaging. Previously, high-resolution spy satellites were the exclusive domain of the military. The images are delivered digitally, sometimes within hours. Ikonos opens the door for a variety of new applications.
City planners can use it to determine where to put new roads, or farmers to decide when to harvest.
The satellite can even map damage after a natural disaster for insurance adjusters. A 150-horsepower engine provides plenty of pull, and the ride quality and handling are excellent. In fact, this sport-utility vehicle drives more like a small car. Inside, the comfortable seats can be rearranged as easily as chairs around the kitchen table to accommodate cargo. The G4 Cube, introduced last summer, has some pretty nice guts too, including a 450MHz G4 processor and a 20GB drive.