What's all this about?

The Peugeot Instinct Concept is another of those fancy self-driving concept cars that points the way to a future where humans are transported around by thinking machines, rather than enacting any car control themselves.

And is it due at Geneva?

Well, it might be, but it has already been revealed at a much more future-techy show called the Mobile World Congress, which takes place in Barcelona, Spain.

OK, sounds cool. Can you tell me more about the Instinct, then?

The driver can choose from Drive Boost, Drive Relax, Autonomous Soft or Autonomous Sharp driving modes, according to their prevailing feelings and energy levels. Just had a tough workout at the gym? Then let the car take the strain and drive you home like a professional chauffeur in Autonomous Soft. Going to be 15 minutes late for work? Stick it in Drive Boost and have some fun. Actually... that last statement isn't strictly true.

How so?

Well, the Instinct has on-board technology including an 'Internet of Things' platform and the Samsung Artik Cloud, both of which permit it to 'learn' your routines and patterns. So it wouldn't actually let you be late for work, instead sending a message to your smartwatch (or similar connected device) to say 'the traffic is a right pig on the A40 Westway, you might want to set off 30 minutes earlier to make that appointment you've got at 9.15am'. Or something like that.

Very clever. So what's powering the Peugeot?

A 300hp plug-in hybrid electric drivetrain. No more details on that, but the angular exterior is both eye-catching and aerodynamically optimised. There are cameras for the self-driving systems housed in the headlights, and inside is a suitably wild interior that features seats which can be laid perfectly flat for 'resting phases' in the car. The steering wheel and throttle pedal fold themselves away when the Instinct is in Autonomous modes, too.

Matt Robinson - 27 Feb 2017