Daimler's futuristic concept car wowed everyone in Las Vegas. Many "concept cars" of our times are just thinly disguised production cars. This aero-shaped monolith is a dream car in the classic sense. Powered by two electric motors and designed for fuel cell technology, it cranks out up to 272-horsepower, with a sustained output of 163-horsepower. That is "at the lower level of what is acceptable in the luxury class, " admits project director Jürgen Weissinger.

It can still reach 125 mph, nonetheless. What's more, it can do it all by itself: If desired, the F015 drives autonomously! In this mode, the front passengers have the option of swiveling their seats around, and turning the car into a veritable lounge. The interior concept, with its lighting effects and concave surfaces, is positively stunning. If the driver chooses to get behind the wheel himself, that's no problem. It drives "just like an S-class, " says Weissinger.

The Volkswagen Golf R Touch hopes for a button-less future.

The Golf R relies on gesture control and three large screens in the cabin.

Tesla wasn't the first carmaker attempting to ban conventional buttons from car interiors - the first system was BMW's infamous iDrive in the E65 7-series. But with that large central touch-screen display, Tesla took it to the utmost level. At least, up until now.

In Las Vegas, Volkswagen is showing a button-less Golf R, called the Golf R Touch. It works with gesture control and three separate large screens. This Golf's level of sophistication is unmatched. We'll see it in series production within two years - in the next-gen Phaeton luxury sedan. Tesla, you’ve been warned.

3. Laser lights

Laser lights seemed like a gimmick when it was launched in the BMW i8 and the Audi R8 LMX last year. Who needs high beams stretching for almost a half mile? It's not even legal in the US. But now, the technology is beginning to make sense. Laser light will be used for low-beam and high-beam applications.

With their incredibly precise beam, they can indicate the width of the vehicle onto the road, which is extremely helpful in narrow lanes (e.g. in construction zones). There's more; they could project crosswalks onto the road if you choose to let a pedestrian pass and the car determines that the surroundings are safe.