Wired Wheels ; Filo's control unit may look like something from a video game, but this car is no toy.

As if the exterior styling weren't stunning enough, you open the vehicle's wide, clamshell doors and are struck by bright red seats that look more like sofas for an upscale cocktail lounge than any sort of automotive benches. Eventually, you'll notice the car's most striking features-or actually, its lack thereof: There are no pedals or steering column. Instead, there's a control device that looks sort of like a Formula One race car steering wheel, except it's attached to a stalk that emerges from the center armrest between the front seats.

Welcome to the Bertone-SKF Filo. Filo is the Italian word for wire, and this is a ``drive-by-wire'' vehicle that replaces the mechanical and hydraulic connections between driver and the car's various dynamic systems with by-wire aircraft technology brought to earth. The key is ``mechatronics,'' which is the ``combination of mechanical devices under intelligent, electronic control.''

SEMAUs (smart electromechanical actuating units) translate the driver's commands and small electric motors and gears provide power as ball-and-roller screws convert rotary to linear motion. All systems have redundant support and a backup power supply.

But, says Filippo Zingariello, director of SKF's drive-by-wire business unit, ``It's very difficult to explain, but after a few seconds in the car it's easy.''

Well, not quite that easy, we discovered when we climbed in behind the wheel... er, control device.

At either side of the device are pistol-style grips that are twisted to activate the accelerator or squeezed to activate the brakes. A button placed within easy reach of either thumb does shifting, and as with a standard gearbox, you ``lift'' off the throttle before shifting gears. You also have to shift into neutral before coming to a full stop.

The controller provides feedback to the driver through the degree of pressure needed to twist the throttle or turn the wheel and the amount of that feedback can be adjusted. Right now there are normal, advanced and F1 ...