BMW shows first of four concept cars detailing the future of driving

BMW is looking toward the next 100 years as its celebrates is centennial anniversary. The German automaker will be unveiling four concept cars that will set the tone for product and design development in the coming century. 

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Self-driving concept car goes full-metal, nixes windows

Now here’s a self-driving car that truly looks like it belongs in the future. Designed by the European Institute of Design of Turin and the magazine Quattroruote, Shiwa (which means fold in Japanese) is an all-metal beauty. Unfortunately, if you’re claustrophobic, this might not be the car for you. It takes out the window and replase that with metal composite panels with an aluminum finish. What you get inside is an augmented reality lair filled with multimedia projected on the walls. Inside it feels more like a lounge instead of a car with the goal of bringing the passengers together. And as an Individual Identity Companion Vehicle, it’s meant to recognize is passengers and learn more about them so the car’s behavior suits the interests and habits of the passgener.

It’s powered by four electric motors, one of each placed in the wheels, turning this into an all-wheel drive EV. The design might look out of this world now but Shiwa’s designers foresee this vehicle or something like it landing on our streets by 2030.

Source: Mashable

CES 2016: Faraday Future’s concept car gets leaked ahead of CES debut

Faraday Future accidentally leaked its concept car ahead of its event (which happens about four hours from now).  Shown in its companion app, it looks a lot like the Batmobile and it just oozes technology. Its tail fin doesn’t just provide directional stability; it’s a “digital canvas display,” too. It has a quad-core drive with “over 1,000 horsepower,” can roll at a top speed of over 200mph, and promises it can go 0-60mph in less than three seconds.

The electric car startup says its insides have an “ultramodern interior and user-centric UI," which is said to “blur the boundary between the passenger and vehicle itself.” You can supposedly opt to pilot the vehicle or have it drive in autonomous mode. And from the looks of it, you can plug your iPhone into the steering wheel. We’ll find out more once they officially launch the car. You can watch the livestream here.

Source: SlashGear

Volvo gives you back your commuting time with new concept

Create mode

Volvo’s new concept car has been named after the average number of time an American spends in the car to drive to work. While 26 minutes might be on the dot for you or slightly more or less than that, what Concept 26 has in mind is to give you back some of your time.

Shown at the LA Auto Show, Volvo’s take on the autonomous driving trend isn’t like the steering wheel-less Google concept car hopes to bring into the future. What Volvo wants is still give you access to manual controls, since their research showed that car customers still want a steering wheel on the autonomous car. Volvo’s research also showed that people will use autonomous drive when they drive to and from work and while stuck in traffic. And at this time you probably won’t have someone else in your car, so no need to swivel seats to face your companion. The company also claims people aren’t too keen on riding backwards anyway.

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