Rinspeed's concept car has a steering wheel desk and dashboard garden
If your ideal car of the future is one that lets you enjoy a spot of gardening while on the move, this is a concept you'll like.
It's from the Swiss carmaker Rinspeed, which is synonymous with outrageous designs in the automotive world.
This latest model keeps to tradition - it's fully autonomous, can rotate on the spot, has a steering wheel that flips over to become a desk and even has a garden plot that soaks up the sun behind the windscreen.
Car or greenhouse? The Rinspeed Oasis has a full autonomous mode and a garden plot behind the dashboard
Welcome to the car of the future: That's according to Rinspeed anyway. Inside, the steering wheel folds upright when the driver is no longer in control and there's a band of 5K screens
It's called the Oasis and it will be showcased for the first time at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas in January.
So what is it exactly? According to boss Frank M. Rinderknecht, the Oasis is 'a maneuverable speedster with an integrated small garden plot behind the windshield'.
The miniature allotment sitting between the dashboard and the front screen is the standout quirky feature among 'a host of technical and visual treats inside,' Rinspeed said.
It's all part of a 'Home+Garden' to 'Car+Garden' approach by the wacky vehicle designer who said the small space is ideal for growing radishes or small Bonsai trees.
But what other strange delights are buried within?
Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht said the idea is to bring the joys of home gardening to the car
The small garden plot is ideal for radishes, Bonsai trees and herbs, according to the wacky carmaker
The car owner has to pass a test administered by the car to take control of the steering wheel. When it's not needed, the wheel folds flat and can be used as a desk
Well, there's a steering wheel that transforms into a desk space when the car isn't being driven by the owner - the wheel folds horizontal and lays flat so you can use it as table for your laptop to catch up on email. You can even make Skype video calls using a camera built into the cabin.
If you do want to get a feel for the wheel and override the autonomous functionality you can do, but first you have to pass a fitness and alertness test that's administered by the car.
Rinspeed's vision for the future is laser-beamed messages to pedestrians to warn them that the electric car is approaching
The boot cover is even a screen that displays information. The vehicle is fully autonomous, so it will even deliver pizzas on its own, according to the Swiss brand that designed it
Rinspeed reckons this is the future of urban mobility, describing the Oasis as a 'maneuverable speedster with an integrated small garden plot behind the windshield'
The rest of the interior is designed to be like a modern living room, but for two people only.
That means it has a wooden floor, swiveling armchairs that can illuminate with your name on them and even sideboards, according to the spec sheet.
And what living room would be complete without a TV? The Oasis doesn't have just one, though - there's a band of 5K screens around the top of the dashboard, hiding the in-car cabbage patch from sight.
As well as harvesting light and heat for the shrubbery growing up front, the huge windscreen also serves as a giant display for virtual and augmented reality information.
Outside, there's a solar panel on the roof to collect energy to power this mass of electronics.
The Rinspeed will beam important messages onto the floor for you as you leave the vehicle. This one reads:'Bye bye Tristan, your train departs in 8 minutes from track 5'
The interior is supposed to replicate a living room. You can even change the words displayed on the thigh supports and headrests of the seats
The car will debut at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2017
The final piece of wizardry is the laser-projecting system that beams information from the car itself. This not only alerts pedestrians about the vehicle approaching with signs shone directly onto the road but also displays calendar entries and reminders to the driver as they leave the car. 'Pick up food for the cat' could soon be coming to a pavement near you.
In terms of performance, the one key feature highlighted by Rinspeed is the ability to turn on a sixpence.
The Oasis has a 90 degree steering angle and electric motors being built into the wheels meaning it can turn within its own radius. Rinderknecht likens it to R2D2 from Star Wars.
No further performance figures are quoted for this greenhouse car of the future, so we'll have to wait for more details when they emerge next month.
A solar panel on the roof harvests energy to power the raft of electronics inside the vehicle
According to Rinspeed, the wheels can turn at such an angle that it can move within its own radius. The company boss likened it to R2D2 from Star Wars. The man with the violin we can't explain
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