What's this then?

Welcome to the world of the future. What year is this? Who's the president? Why are the apes in charge?

Are you feeling OK?

Yes sorry, came over a bit Charlton Heston there thanks to Mercedes-Benz's uber-futuristic 'F 015 Luxury in Motion'. Rather significantly, this hydrogen powered, self-driving concept is being unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, not at a traditional motor show. Tech rules all on the Planet Of The Apes it seems.

Enough with the apes stuff. What's so futuristic about it?

Well, it's got a hydrogen fuel cell plug-in drivetrain, featuring two electric motors delivering 286hp and 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds and a touring range on one fill of the underfloor hydrogen tanks of 686 miles.

As if that's not enough, it drives itself, using a huge number of sensors and radar to navigate the world while you can swivel the front seats around to face your rear seat passengers and have a nice chat. Better still, there's a pedestrian detection system that not only spots someone trying to cross the road in front, but stops the car, projects an image of a zebra crossing in front of the car and uses an electronic voice to tell them it's safe to cross the road. Yes, really.

Anything else?

Merc boss Dieter Zetsche was on hand at the CES to reveal the concept, underlining the importance of the tech-show to modern car makers: "Anyone who focuses solely on the technology has not yet grasped how autonomous driving will change our society. The car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a mobile living space."