Bently Whets our Appetite with the concept of Advanced Driverless Cars

       When Siri just doesn’t cut it.

While this is great news for the average Joe, the rich and famous among us might feel a little bitter knowing they have lost something that makes them socially elite.

Thankfully, luxury car manufacturer Bentley has come to the rescue with its self-driving concept car.

THE best thing about driverless cars is the fact everyone will have the opportunity to experience what it feels like to be a baller getting chauffeured around town.

Bentley’s director of design Stefan Sielaff said the automotive company was merely upgrading its current ultra-luxury experience.

“We have had the equivalent of autonomous cars for the last 100 years, from the point of view of the rear seat passenger who had a driver,” he toldCar and Driver.

The ultra-luxury self-driving concept car comes standard with two white leather sofas, an elegant coffee table and a holographic butler.

Mr Sielaff said the holographic humanoid would function similarly to a Siri and serve as the primary interface for the vehicle.

The driving future has arrived

“Luxury is always related to service,” he said.

“People don’t like the idea of just talking to a hidden microphone. We are thinking of how to personalise the next generation of communication.”

Mr Sielaff did admit there was no plan to send the car into immediate production, but it showcased what Bentley were experimenting with.

“In our design studio we are working on the stuff that is on the market in five years time,” he said.

“We are living in the future and what you see here is the past for us and the present for you.”

Despite the emergence of competitor vehicles, Mr Sielaff is confident there will be a market for the ultra-luxury vehicles.

“The way of living is going to change dramatically in the next 20 years,” he said.

“If you look at the world population, three quarters will live in megacities. I’m pretty sure that not everybody will sit in public transport.

“There is always the demand — especially for luxury customers — to have a private sphere, their own private vehicle.

“Maybe a luxury customer will be part of a fast-lane club and the swarm [of other autonomous vehicles] will get out of the way when the big shark arrives — we are playing with ideas here.”

originally by Matthew Dunn for news.com.au