Mercedes offers glimpse inside the car of the future

The seats in the F 015 can be swung around to face the centre while the car drives itself. Credit: Reuters

A new concept car is trying to show the potential for the driverless cars of the future. The Mercedes F 015 is only a "futuristic concept" for now, but is one of many examples of products at CES that hint at what the future may hold.

The car is filled with smart touch screens that users can use to entertain themselves as well as alter any aspect of the journey, including route.

The Mercedes-Benz F015. Credit: Reuters

On the outside of the F 015 there are multiple sensors to scan and analyse the environment as the car travels through it.

There are also LED lights that project signals and messages as pedestrians and other cars encounter it, and the F 015 even speaks to those crossing the road, offering them right of way with a "please go ahead".

The F015 Luxury in Motion autonomous concept car is being show at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

Gary Shapiro steps out of the Mercedes-Benz F015. Credit: Reuters

Earlier this month is was announced that through government funding, driverless cars would begin to be tested in the UK.

Some experts are predicting the a driverless vehicle could be on sale before the end of the decade.

While Mercedes are offering a glimpse into a future, across the Las Vegas Convention Centre BMW are showing off technology that is being tested in their existing models.

The ActiveAssist parks the car in Las Vegas.

The German firm's electric i3 has been fitted with a new technology called ActiveAssist that uses laser-sensors built into the front and rear bumpers that create a 360-degree image that is fed into the on-board computer and used to judge when the brakes need to be applied. The car can even override your controls.

ActiveAssist is also being used to power an automated valet system.Via an app on Samsung smartwatches, users say "BMW, pick me up", and the car drives itself to your location. The system also works in reverse, so you can get out when you enter a car park, and the car will identify a space and park in it by itself.

BMW say the technology is still a few years away from coming into mainstream production, with the cost of the sensors needing to come down before it becomes practical.