Pitching its contribution as a way of combating tiredness and stress plus allowing drivers to multitask and let the car take the strain, the French firm is looking to 2020 as the year when its bold vision could become a reality.

There is a catch though, as Renault’s vision of an autonomous driving future centres around the provision of ‘protected’ roads devoid of pedestrians or other hazards to make the reality of hands off driving possible.

Crucially the auto driving mode is limited to 18mph, which highlights Renault’s focus on the urban environment.

Factor in the car’s Internet connected status – making it capable of talking to smartphones and the like in the cabin, allowing occupants to work instead of drive – plus self parking function for when you reach your chosen, pre-booked car park, and the emphasis is very much on convenience.

Renault boasts of using readily available technology for its self-driving car project, which it hopes will keep costs down and make the car more affordable for a wider audience.