Mercedes-Benz unveils autonomous car of the future

Treading a fine line between a regular vehicle and something straight out of Tron, Mercedes-Benz’s latest concept car aims to focus less on actually driving, but more on enjoying the experience of the drive. Named the Vision Tokyo, the capsule-shaped car will feature self-driving technology (with a driving seat and steering wheel popping out on command) and is one of the sleekest and coolest we’ve seen for a long time in the automobile industry.

"The Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo embodies the concept of an automotive lounge for a future generation of megacities," says Gorden Wagener, the German vehicle manufacturer’s head of design. "The purity and sensuality of the Vision Tokyo’s styling defines a new interpretation of modern luxury from Mercedes-Benz."

Externally, the Vision Tokyo is detailed with Mercedes-Benz’s typical Alubeam silver paint, the Vision Tokyo’s lower half is covered with bright-blue and glowing lights, with the front grill and 26-inch rims essentially bright enough to light up the darkest night. The interior is equally futuristic, as it contains an oval-shaped couch, wraparound LED screens, and even a holographic entertainment system that seems straight out of a sci-fi film. "Mercedes-Benz aims to show how the car of the future can be turned into a hip living space - a chill-out zone in the midst of megacity traffic mayhem," the company said in a recent statement.

With leading electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf gaining in popularity, going green is the agenda for most car manufactures, and the Vision Tokyo is no different. The car is powered by a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and an electric charging system that in theory will give zero-emissions over a range of 600 miles.

While it’s certain that picking up modern parts and products for your car won’t diminish for a long time, the automotive industry as a whole will likely imminently phase in more electric cars, with futurologists expecting 2026 to be the year we’ll see the this type of vehicle to be standard on our roads.