Automobiles provide an interesting and challenging domain for research as well as applications of intelligent environment and associated technologies. Some of the ideas and concepts developed around "smart spaces" (rooms and buildings) can be extended to the automobile domain. However, the special constraints imposed by size, time, speed, criticality, and environmental variations, make this domain significantly different. In this presentation, we provide a systems-oriented framework and roadmap for examining automobile-based intelligent environments. We consider three main components of the system, driver, vehicle, and vehicle surround. We discuss various issues and ideas for developing of models for these main components as well as tasks associated with the complex task of safe driving. The presentation includes discussion of novel sensory systems and algorithms for capturing not only the dynamic surround information of the vehicle but also the state, intent and behavior patterns of drivers. (2 pages)