Brave new world with semi-autonomous driving. We extracted this report from a video by Marek Wieruszewski of a ZF driving simulator at the IAA 2019. The steering wheel is oval and you look at the screen above it. In the middle is the usual touchscreen, on the left and right the two in front of the A-pillar show the images from the cameras instead of the rear-view mirror.

When the door is opened, the steering wheel, which is much wider than it is high, inclines to make it easier to get in and out. You can also use it as a step-in aid because it is fixed that way. There's a big difference if you just close the door or buckle up too. In the first case, only the steering wheel goes into the normal position.

In the second case, everything is set to a position previously determined for that person, including steering wheel, seat adjustment and even the sound, transmitted through speakers in the headrest. Which person is about to get in probably depends on the key chip that he/she is carrying.

But there is also a camera that is aimed at the driver and is also programmed for changes while driving, e.g. to the steering wheel and other control elements. Of course, the principle is that all presets and also the current situations can be changed.

It seems that feedback is becoming increasingly important in such largely non-mechanical systems. One way to make audible the movements that you make e.g. on the rotary/push button on the center console by acoustic changes in the speakers of the headrest. All that's missing is a creaking noise when you open the door.

Of course, the touchscreen also reacts immediately to operation. On the topic of feedback: even before the vehicle can be set in motion after pressing the corresponding button, the light strip around the controls on the center console becomes active in terms of color and movement.

As long as you are not traveling in two lanes per direction, there is no automated driving, only little helpers who, for example, monitor compliance with the permitted speed. A kind of control of track keeping is also possible, with feedback via vibrations. The turn signal lever has migrated as a button to the abundance of operating options on the steering wheel.

We'll leave it to you to decide whether all of this is so advantageous, we're already beginning to have doubts. Apparently it is not possible to set the turn signal via software, because with the navigation it is not certain whether the specifications are being met and if movements of the steering wheel are detected, the setting of the turn signal will probably come too late.

Oh yes, the automatic stop when pedestrians suddenly cross is sometimes even standard today. Here, in this system from ZF, it may be that at the safety belt is additionally pulled. With the transition to a kind of 'autobahn' , the ratio of the steering has changed. After a short time, the option of autonomous driving is displayed.

Whether this is really Level 4, we leave it open. Of course, you can regain control of the steering wheel at any time. However, it has moved a little forward from the driver. Now it is also noticeable that the two screens show blue boundary lines instead of the rear-view mirrors, so they are also intended for additional information.

The system makes it easy for you. You simply do nothing until you are asked to take over. This is announced in many ways, e.g. by readjusting the seat and steering wheel, particularly prompting movements in the displays, all lines become red and who knows what else the seatings will do to you.

Because it is important to avoid what happens when you don't react at all. The vehicle practically stops in the middle of the lane. You then also have ignored corresponding announcements from the loudspeaker system. Well, how do you find your way in this preview of the automotive world of tomorrow?