Volvo's 'autonomous' driving position

Volvo has adopted a unique approach for the reveal of its new car. Today, at the Los Angeles Autoshow the Swedish carmaker with a reputation for safety innovation and design revealed only the driver's seat, dash and an autonomous input screen.

We've seen more of Wonder Woman's jet; however, the unique snow white interior carries may of Volvo's familiar design influences such as the simple chrome accents and graceful contours. Grabbing attention is the very large input screen, which evolves and revolves from the passenger-side dash.

Volvo calls its static installation 'Concept 26'. Some insiders have suggested the lonely seat and interior may belong to the future flagship S90 large sedan being designed and developed for the Chinese and affluent North American markets.

The interior does hint at Volvo's race to develop the autonomous vehicle.

"We're taking it step by step," said Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo Cars President and CEO North America. "We launched Pilot Assist in the XC90, and now the second step we're going to take is to increase the speed of Pilot Assist from 45km/h to around 120km/h so you can also drive on the motorway."

He predicts full autonomous capability will be available from Volvo sometime after 2020.

"There's still some work to be done, and it's not only the cars," he continues. "It is also the infrastructure and even the minds of the customers. Autonomy is an entirely new industry."

At the moment in the US, Volvo Car charges (US) $1200 for the Pilot Assist option. In five to 10 years what will be the cost of a fully autonomous system? Kerssemakers admits he cannot predict the approximate pricing, but he clarifies that Volvo Car believes people will want to continue driving. To that point, expect Volvo Car to combine traditional driver control with full autonomous technology. "So in the end you have a car and you have an option of autonomous drive," he said.

The seat itself carries a few comforting and awakening features such as massage that come into play when the car senses the driver is becoming drowsy. Volvo is believed to be working with French supplier Faurecia to develop several in-seat biometric sensors that monitor the occupant's pulse and respiratory rate as well as overall stress levels.

Volvo is moving quickly on construction of its new assembly plant in South Carolina. The company broke ground six weeks ago.

"Construction is going full speed. We need to be operational in 2018," Kerssemakers confirmed. "We will have a capacity of 60,000, and we'll produce the S60 sedan there for global distribution."

Volvo last assembled cars in North America from a remote plant in Nova Scotia, Canada. The manufacturer closed the plant in 1989.