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Mercedes-Benz unveil latest self-driving car with swivel chairs and touchscreens

The F015 was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Monday

Jack Simpson
Tuesday 06 January 2015 15:20 GMT
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The F015 includes swivel chairs and touch screens
The F015 includes swivel chairs and touch screens (Getty Images)

Mercedes-Benz has given a glimpse into what the future of motoring might look like by unveiling a concept for their latest self-driving electric vehicle.

The F015 was shown to technology enthusiasts at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday, and was branded by Mercedes-Benz directors as more than just a "means of transport" but a "mobile living space."

The luxury sedan, which measures 5ft high and 17ft in length, includes technology at the forefront of autonomous vehicle design and a number of exclusive features.

The outside of the car is made from a mixture of carbon, aluminium and high-strength steel, with a single pane of glass stretching from the car’s windshield to its sunroof.

Its exterior also includes a set of 26-inch wheels placed on the far corners of the vehicle to ensure the inside of the car is as spacious as possible.

The car’s interior consists of four seats that can swivel up to 30 degrees, as well as six high-resolution touch screens that can be controlled by passenger’s gestures and eye movements.

According to the creators, this emphasis on the interior of the vehicle is part of Mercedes-Benz’s decision to look beyond just the technology that supports self-driving vehicles.

Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: "Anyone who focuses solely on the technology has not yet grasped how autonomous driving will change our society

"The car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a mobile living space."

Zetsche added that the the vehicle had been designed with a future that consisted of roads populated with ”exclusive cocoons on wheels.“

Mercedes said that the vehicle was just a concept for now and did not disclose when how much they thought the F015 would cost, or when it would be available to the public.

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