Self-driving cars are right around the corner. There are numerous autonomous concepts and prototypes on the roads, fielded by Google, Volvo,->ke188 Mercedes->ke187 and others, and their success suggests that we might not be far from having them available to the public. This is going to require a significant shift in interior design, and Volvo has done some exploration into this idea with the Concept 26.

Unveiled at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show,->ke211 Concept 26 is a design study that focuses on the interior, rather than the exterior. Taking the idea of an autonomous->ke5282 luxury car,->ke505 Volvo considers ways that the interior can be reconfigured and re-thought to accommodate drivers who aren’t necessarily driving all the time. It’s got three driving modes: Drive, Create, and Relax. Concept 26 is an interior designed for a car that is autonomous during the daily commute, but actively driven the rest of the time.

Continue reading to learn more about the Volvo Concept 26.

Volvo Concept 26 in detail

To facilitate this, Concept 26 features comfortable, body-hugging seats, a retractable 25-inch flatscreen monitor in the dash connected to a raised tablet-style interface in the center console and an armrest that doubles as a writing table. In Drive mode, the monitor is stowed to reduce distraction. The instrument panel is driver-centric and laid out cockpit-style. When Concept 26 is switched to Create mode, the screen and table are deployed to allow the driver to work on projects or just stream online content.

Relaxation is offered in the form of a reclined seat and more passive entertainment. The front seats feature a reclining function with leg rests, and slide back for additional legroom. The concept is being further developed with the input of drivers around the world. Volvo believes that by enabling a car to become a mobile office or living room during long commutes, it can allow drivers to gain back some of the many hours that are lost annually on the daily grind.

Why it matters

Unlike similar concepts that have appeared in the past, Concept 26 is designed using Volvo’s new scalable vehicle architecture, so it could be applied to a number of future Volvo products. When the autonomous-car revolution comes, Volvo will be ready.