Automaker Buick has introduced the Chinese audience to two concept cars called Smart Pod and GL8 Flagship. The former is a pure design study conducted on the self-driving cars of the future, while the latter is a sneak peek into the next generation of the China-only GL8 MPV.
Let’s begin with the Smart Pod. The fantasy car is envisioned with full self-driving capabilities, hence the lack of the steering wheel and other controls. An enormous 50-inch display dominates the dashboard and can be retracted when not used, leaving behind a smaller screen with the most critical information on it.
Found under the display is a sofa for two people that can be unfolded to form an improvised table. Two more folding seats are found in the back, separated with a console concealing a tea service underneath. The only way for the passengers to interact with the car is through voice commands.
Back to the real world, though. The GL8 Flagship Concept has a racing-style steering wheel with a display on it and a suitably futuristic interior with four seats. You can swivel the front seats around to face the rear ones and enjoy a tea ceremony with the rear passengers (notice how tea is a major recurring theme between the two?).
There is also a huge heads-up display projected onto the entire width of the windshield, which Buick claims is interactive without delving into the details. Finally, the minivan supports the V2X protocol for intelligent mobility, which should enable it to communicate with other smart vehicles on the road and avoid incidents.