RPi runs Linux -- which is infinitely easier to develop for than an MSP430 or Android. You probably could interface with the vehicle telemetry, but you would do

RPi runs Linux -- which is infinitely easier to develop for than an MSP430 or Android. You probably could interface with the vehicle telemetry, but you would do it like you would with any PC: through some proprietary USB adapter. The whole benefit of the RPi is that it gives you access to a ton of open source software and low-cost hardware in a cheap embedded platform. Try adding Wi-Fi to an MSP430; it will take an XBee and a ton of code to make it work. With an RPi, it's as easy as buying a $15 USB Wi-Fi dongle and configuring the interface.