Swiss coachbuilder Rinspeed will travel to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, to introduce a new concept called Σtos.
Based on the BMW i8, the Σtos is a futuristic coupe that highlights the brand’s vision for the future of mobility. The bulk of the modifications are found in the cabin, where Rinspeed has installed a completely new dashboard designed to let the passengers relax and enjoy the ride while the Σtos drives itself. The steering wheel retracts into the dashboard when it’s not being used and frees up space for a pair of 21-inch high-definition screens that can be individually adjusted.
The Harman-designed infotainment system lets the passengers access their agenda, watch movies, make video calls, or get information about their destination. It can be controlled via voice commands, gestures, touch inputs, or a controller knob. The screens also display footage provided by the eight high-definition cameras installed to monitor the Σtos and its surroundings, a feature that eliminates the need for door mirrors.
Interestingly, the coupe boasts a gaze-tracking system that keeps track of the driver’s eye movements to monitor what he or she has and hasn’t seen. The infotainment system instantly processes this information and uses it to generate personalized warnings about potential obstacles in the road ahead.
Running late? The Σtos has you covered thanks to an on-board drone designed to land on a purpose-built Gorilla Glass pad mounted on the back of the car. Rinspeed points out the drone can run basic errands such as picking up flowers for the driver’s significant other; alternatively, it can shoot pictures of the coupe and instantly post them on social media.
Rinspeed has made a long list of visual modifications to the i8. The Σtos ditches the i8′s kidney grille in favor of a one-piece unit, and it gains new rocker extensions, redesigned quarter panels, and a longer rear end. Mechanically, the Σtos is standard i8 fare, meaning it uses a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain made up of a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine stuffed behind the passenger compartment and an electric motor installed on the front axle.
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