The Bertone design studio has produced plans for a small console to operate the car which can be either folded away or removed completely.

And parking will be simpler in the future. The plan is for electric motors in the hubs to turn wheels 900. Some of the ideas are expected to be built into the Volvo XC60 concept car.

And Hella, the bulb and headlight maker, is developing smart lamps that will not dazzle approaching vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

Computers detect when they are about to be hit by a full beam and immediately lowers the angle of the light. The system uses a camera sensor to scan the road ahead for 800 metres. When objects come into view the lamp and reflector swivel downwards without reducing the level of brightness.

The system also works in hilly terrain always keeping the beam on the road surface which eliminates the rise and fall of light with the nose of the car which can be a problem for oncoming traffic.