The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2019 - Issue 26

bite cars tional way, Snowdon used some of the oldest and finest fabrics like cashmere and silks as well as ultra-modern materials like carbon fibre and ceramics. “The result is a cabin that surprises, shocks, and fascinates, where silk carpets and hand-woven wool upholstery live in perfect harmony with carbon fibre trim and functional ceramic tiles that open and close to alter the ventilation and ad- just the volume of the music.” The design of this amazing conceptual idea also brings a new level of convenience and ease of use. For example, the rear-hinged back doors do not just open outwards, the roof sections also open upwards to provide unprece- dented ease of access. Instead of struggling to get out of the vehicle as in some cars, occupants can literally stand up inside and walk out of the car, or step straight into it. Similarly, the front seats are not mounted on conven- tional runners but instead sit on cantilevered arms ex- tending from the floor outside the seat frame providing a completely uncluttered floor area. Like the ideal dream car, the Lagonda Vision Concept is commensurate with level four autonomous driving, meaning the car is capable of driving itself in all routine circumstances and on all recognisable roads. Interested- ly, the steering wheel can move from left to right-hand drive making it convenient when driving in countries that drive on different sides. When it’s in autonomous mode, it can retract entirely allowing the front seat pas- sengers to rotate through 180 degrees to engage in face- to-face conversation with those in the back. When in motion, the concept car will not only have 360-degree awareness of the world around it, but it will also be fully connected to it, allowing the occupants un- precedented access to bespoke concierge services and a level of connectivity and cyber-security few enjoy in their own homes, let alone their cars. “For owners of true luxury cars, autonomy has existed for over a cen- tury, in a carbon-based form called a chauffeur,” com- mented Palmer. “We imagine most Lagonda customers will choose to be driven, but whether by a person or a computer will be up to them. And if they want to drive themselves, the car will ensure that it is a delightful and memorable experience too.” Equipped to accept powerful solid-state electric batter- ies, the Lagonda Vision Concept will be able to cover up to 400 real-world miles between charges. To understand the full extent of this, think of the distance from Los