After teasing the concept back in October, Switzerland-based Rinspeed took the wraps off the „Ʃtos“ hybrid sports car ahead of its official premier at CES 2016 in Las Vegas.

The automobile car manufacturer is known to emphasize occurring themes in the automotive world through its unique creations. This time the motif is “self-driving cars”, primarily from the perspective of the driver and passengers, and a BMW i8 was used as a base for the project. Basically, Rinspeed wanted to find out how much “human component should, must or may there be in a machine” – as they described it.

So, it comes as no surprise to find out that the automobile is garnished with “visionary high-tech”, implemented to almost entirely remove the need for a driver. The technical highlight of the Ʃtos’ interior is the folding and retracting steering wheel from ZF TRW. The unit “disappears in the dashboard” – as described by the car maker – in a few seconds, creating lots of space in the front for the driver. Moreover, the position of the two curved 21.5-inch ultra-HD monitors is individually adjustable to provide a better view of the contents.

The infotainment experience is highlighted by the Harman Connected Car technology, which acts like a personal assistant, thinks, anticipates and provides information without distracting the occupants. But if it’s imperative to enter a command, the system can be controlled by voice, gestures, touch input or even by the push of a button.

Eight HD exterior camera are responsible for monitoring the vehicle’s surroundings completely, making impressive 180-degree panoramic views in front and behind the vehicle. To top it off, the system can double as virtual “exterior mirrors” with an expanded field of view that has no blinds spots, while people and animals are detected and tracked automatically.

But the vehicle’s pièce de résistance must surely be the on-board DJI drone, complete with landing platform in the rear. 12,000 individually controlled LEDs can transform the platform into an electronic message board or a “a visual dancefloor” – don’t ask us, that’s what Rinspeed says.

In fact, the car maker goes on describing the drone as a UFO that can shoot selfies of the ride, or can quickly pick up a bouquet of flowers for the significant other ordered on the way home. Right…

Anyway, visual-wise, the Ʃtos does resemble an i8, but it has been heavily enhanced with Rinspeed’s own style. For example, it sits on 20-inch Borbet GTX aluminum rims and, get this, the company uses ceramic and metal alloys in the concept that are applied at temperatures above 20,000 degrees Celsius and at supersonic speeds.

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