Car manufacturers have been converging on the spotlight at the annual Consumer Electronics Show for the last several years, and CES 2015 is no exception. This year’s lineup features some of the most forward-thinking self-driving and alternative powertrain concepts yet, including the Mercedes-Benz F 015, Audi A7, Toyota Mirai, BMW i3 and Tesla Model X.
Mercedes unveiled the F 015 Luxury in Motion concept at CES Tuesday. The car is straight out of a future envisioned with drivers relaxing in “lounge-like” comfort while their autonomous cars transport them free of human control. The F 015’s cabin features four rotating seats capable of facing each other, retractable controls, a light carbon fiber body and a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain.
Toyota showed off the latest version of its Mirai hydrogen fuel cell sedan, alongside an announcement that the company will be releasing more than 5,680 hydrogen-related patents royalty free — an attempt to spur the construction and spread of a hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The Mirai will go on sale for the first time this year in California before branching out to other states. (RELATED: Audi Announces It’s ‘Mastered’ Hydrogen, Unveils First Fuel Cell Vehicle)
Audi deployed a fleet of self-driving concepts to CES this year including the new RS7 equipped with Audi’s “piloted driving” system, which Audi claims is the fastest in the world. (RELATED: Watch This Audi Become The World’s Fastest Self-Driving Car)
BMW brought its i3 electric along with a new automated driving program controlled via smartwatch, which allows drivers to command the car to park itself and come back to retrieve the driver with a tap on the wrist. (RELATED: BMW Is Building Cars You Can Park With Your Smartwatch)
Tesla’s third model, the X AWD SUV, also made an appearance ahead of its third quarter street debut later this year. (RELATED: Tesla Expected To Miss Sales Forecasts Because Of Its Weird New Doors)