As many vehicles advance toward automation, passengers are presented with a range of new possibilities. Without a human driver, the car’s interior can be transformed to cater to the desires of the traveler with entertainment, media and digital connections seamlessly integrated into the vehicle’s ecosystem. Routes can be customized to optimize the journey, ranging from the quickest to the offbeat, with the ability to identify interesting and historically significant landmarks, locations, features and objects along the way.

In the car of the future, integrated artificial intelligence assists in planning scenic detours and dining experiences. Because the vehicle drives itself, enhanced lie-flat seating that incorporates massage and optimal body positioning ensures passengers arrive at their destination feeling well-rested. High-quality audio and video systems, coupled with atomizers that release the occupants’ favorite aromatherapy scent, provide an opportunity to enhance the overall sense of well-being. Biometric sensors monitor heart rate and stress levels, prompting relaxation or meditative activities. Companies such as Cadillac and BMW are already working to make these concepts a reality.