Cadillac Shows Off Self-Driving Luxury Concept EV With No Steering Wheel

Self-driving vehicles might not be quite the bread and butter of our transport industry just yet, but there’s no harm in planning for what feels like an almost-inevitable takeover. 

Cadillac is bringing its own luxurious twist to the notion of an autonomous car, envisioning an ‘InnerSpace’ concept that will truly allow users to kick back and relax while the EV does all the work. 

Revealed at CES 2022, the sleek two-seater focuses on the passenger experience above what it’s like to drive it. After all, the idea is not to have to operate it at all. The firm is really driving in the point here, having eradicated the steering wheel entirely, with other driving apparatus nowhere to be found. 

Instead, there’s a wraparound surface-mounted LED screen, which hosts two “themes” to choose from: Augmented Reality Entertainment and Wellness Recovery.

All the content, including potential additions via third parties, can be enjoyed while reclining on what looks more like a sofa than a pair of car seats. 

If users tire of the screen, looking up through the panoramic glass roof will provide idyllic views of the skies above. This roof also opens alongside the doors, while the seats pivot outwards. The firm says this will allow for “more comfortable entry and egress.”

Although much of the focus is the experience within the vehicle, design on the outside hasn’t been overlooked. Even the tires are designed to elevate the travel experience: Goodyear’s new sustainable tires, made of soybeans and rice husk, not only provide a green alternative but also allow for a quiet, comfortable ride. 

“Electrification and autonomous driving will fundamentally change the role of vehicles and the experiences customers have with them,” explains Bryan Nesbitt, executive director of General Motors, Cadillac’s parent company. 

“We’re exploring where that will go with these innovative concepts, envisioning mobility as an ally of wellness, giving customers the ultimate luxury, more personal time rather than taking it.”

‘InnerSpace’ is part of Cadillac’s Halo portfolio, which currently consists of the ‘PersonalSpace’, a single-seated VTOL concept designed to “literally move its passenger above the din and congestion of ground traffic,” as well as the ‘SocialSpace’, an autonomous vehicle capable of carrying up to six people.

“Conceptually, the portfolio repurposes how passengers use their time while traveling, providing a space for solace and respite,” the company states.

“Full autonomy relinquishes the responsibility of vehicle control while dramatic design and advanced technologies maintain the sensation of arriving in a Cadillac.”

[via Mashable and Robb Report, images via Cadillac]