French carmaker Renault could have its first autonomous vehicles in as soon as six years.
The Manchester, England-headquartered company has been showing off its new electric-powered Next Two prototype, which is Renault's first attempt at a self-driving car, Autoblog.com reported.
Based on the Renault Zoe model, the plug-in Next Two model could be ready by 2020. The car will reportedly be able to drive itself in congested traffic at speeds of up to 18 mph, according to Autoblog. The Next Two will also be self-parking and have high-speed broadband connectivity.
"With Next Two, we wanted to combine the worlds of delegated driving and connectivity," Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn said in a statement, as quoted by The Green Car Website.
"Not only will autonomous driving enhance safety, but it will also free up time for drivers. Being connected will enable them to make the most of this extra time by providing them with access to new in-car services such as video-conferences, online shopping, travel information and more."
According to Renault, Next Two vehicles will give drivers additional free time and keep motorists safer on crowded roads using sensor technology. Motorists in major cities in the United States and Europe lose between 60 and 80 hours a year during 60-minute daily commutes home, the company said.
"Everybody is looking to save time, particularly when it comes to driving," Frédéric Mathis, who is heading the Next Two project, said in a Renault press release posted on Autoblog.
"Next Two has consequently been designed to help occupants optimize the way they manage their time and ensure that wasted or lost time becomes useful or enjoyable by freeing up opportunities to relax, educate oneself, have fun or work."
The electric-powered car will have advanced driver assistance features such as lane keeping assist and cruise control. According to Autoblog, the Next Two will also boast "multi-sensorial ambiences," which are relaxing programmed lighting, sounds and scents.
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