Pininfarina has released renderings of its latest concept, the Teorema, an EV that the auto maker envisions as an autonomous vehicle that creates interactions between passengers and the environment.
“Pininfarina has always looked to the future using concept cars as an innovation tool to chart the direction and introduce new visions in terms of usability and technology in the automotive industry,” commented Kevin Rice, chief creative officer, Pininfarina.
“Teorema, in particular, wants to give people back the pleasure of living the car, driving and traveling, without the frustrations of increased congestion and other compromises, all while integrating AI, 5G and the latest technology to drive passengers towards new incredible experiences along the journey.”
As passengers enter, the rear of the Teorema opens, while the roof extends upward and forward, and the floor then lights up to guide occupants to their seats. Within the Teorema, passengers can then decide on whether they want to interact, sleep or rest depending on the situation.
The Teorema features different modes to suit passenger preferences or different driving situations:
Autonomy Mode: A completely autonomous mode with no interaction between the driver and the vehicle. Instead, the driver faces the four passengers, with enough space between occupants to give everyone the feeling of having their own private cocoon.
Drive Mode: To provide a feeling of community, the different areas of the interior become the same color to create a subconscious connection between all occupants to create a shared experience.
Rest Mode: In this mode, the entire interior turns into a social space where occupants can be in any position. The cabin and smart seats then automatically change to enable people on board to socialize or relax.
The seats were designed to ensure a relaxing shape was achieved for passengers, yet can also fold down flat into a bench or a cot-like shape, while smart glass in the rear of the vehicle enables privacy for passengers and regulates light entering the vehicle from the outside.
Within the cabin, augmented reality keeps occupants informed with traffic information and places of interest. Passengers can then interact with the displayed information to learn more or to share it with other people inside the Teorema.
Continental Engineering Services smart surfaces also provide added safety by way of pop-up buttons hidden under the car’s interior surfaces. These emerge when the driver’s hand passes over them, and each button is designed to have a slightly different shape so that drivers can easily recognize them without being distracted from the road.
