While autonomous cars look to a better, brighter future, Ford is looking to the past.
Ford has patented a concept for an autonomous car that can reconfigure its seats so the passengers in the front face those in the rear, just like a living room.
The patent drawings detail a variety of seat styles that can be manipulated to allow a variety of seating positions. One features a bench that can fold so its either facing the front or rear, while another features front seats that tuck under the dashboard.
Ultimately, the goal of self-driving cars is to require nothing of the passengers, so seats that face the front of the car aren't necessary. They just set the destination and relax while the car handles all the dirty work.
While we don't yet live in a world with autonomous cars, this particular idea is actually half a century old. Many concept drawings from the ever-optimsitic American 1950s envision families sitting together in their autonomobiles playing board games with seats that face each other.
Clearly, the realities of the Cold War hadn't quite set in.
The Mercedes-Benz F 015 "Luxury In Motion" concept that debuted at this year's CES also featured an interior similar to Ford's living room concept. Mercedes CEO (and great mustache haver) Dieter Zetsche said that "quality time in private space will be the true luxury goods in the future," at his CES keynote, with the F 015 concept reflecting this sentiment.
In Mercedes-Benz's vision, self-driving cars are your luxurious, relaxing buffer between work and home. Ford may not be exploring the luxury angle quite to the same extent Mercedes is, but clearly its looking at what's possible for when drivers become passengers.
Of course, you shouldn't expect this on your 2016 Ford. Or your 2020 Ford. Or your 2030 Ford. Fully autonomous cars are still a number of years away because of the numerous technological and regulatory hurdles. Even if your future car has a high level of autonomy, it will still require you to be present behind the wheel.