LEADIN:

Toyota gave the automotive industry a hydrogen-powered kick at the International CES event in Las Vegas.

The Japanese car manufacturers announced they're set to make available thousands of hydrogen fuel cell patents royalty-free, in a bid to encourage the industry.

Toyota's new sporty-looking hydrogen-powered 'Mirai' is the backdrop for the Japanese auto makers press event at the International CES in Las Vegas.

Bob Carter, who is Senior Vice President of automotive operations at Toyota, explains the mechanics of the vehicle.

"The Toyota Mirai is a mid-sized, four-door sedan - its front wheels are driven by electric motors. The electricity that powers the motors is made on-board, on-demand, as needed by simply combining hydrogen with oxygen, producing zero emissions, other than water vapour."

In the middle of his speech - a moment of drama as the power cut.

"I got you covered," assured Carter, as he connected a wire from the Mirai to re-boot the power in the briefing room and light up a mock-up home on stage.

"This Mirai is capable of supplying enough energy to power your home essentials as well as all of your consumer electronics in an average home for up to a week, in the event of an emergency," explains Carter.

But the high-profile event wasn't about announcing a new vehicle or component, but about giving something away.

In a bid to encourage the hydrogen auto industry to flourish, Carter announced that Toyota is set to invite royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents.

That includes critical technologies developed for the new 'Mirai' - which means "the future" in Japanese.

The list includes approximately 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell systems' software control and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply.

By releasing these patents, Toyota are hoping to encourage the industry to flourish.

"It's obvious that there can be a higher societal value in openly sharing our IP," says Carter.

"By eliminating the traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the metabolism of everyone's research and development and move into a future of mobility, quicker, more effectively and more economically."

The Toyota executive ended his speech with a quote from former President Abraham Lincoln.

"'The best way to predict the future, is to create it'. And that's what we're doing at Toyota."

Toyota unveiled the 'Mirai' - their first ever hydrogen-powered vehicle - at a press event in Tokyo in November.

The success of the vehicle and other hydrogen cars depends on an infrastructure growing to encourage drivers to buy them.

Other Asian automakers, Honda and Hyundai, are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

Automotive tech is set to be a big talking point at this year's International CES event in Las Vegas.

A variety of self-driving cars and integrated dashboards will demonstrate how seriously the car industry considers putting smart tech into their vehicles.

A record 10 automotive manufacturers are set to exhibit at the event including Toyota, Ford, BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

Automotive exhibits will cover over 165,000 square feet of event space, 17 percent more than last year.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will run 6-9 January 2015.

The annual technology event is set to showcase over 3,500 exhibitors including big tech companies like Sony, Samsung and LG.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 5 January 2015

1. Various of hydrogen-powered Toyota 'Mirai' vehicle

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Sales, Automotive Operations:

"'The future' is what the 'Mirai' means in Japanese, and it's arriving in October this year in the US. The Toyota Mirai is a mid-sized, four-door sedan - its front wheels are driven by electric motors. The electricity that powers the motors is made on-board, on-demand, as needed by simply combining hydrogen with oxygen, producing zero emissions, other than water vapour. Unlike other electric cars that rely on large batteries for power, this Mirai can be re-fuelled, as the doctor (Michio Kaku) said, in three to five minutes and travels up about 300 miles on a single fill-up. It will start up in the morning at minus 30 degrees Centigrade, below zero, and as many of you have already heard...(power cuts out) Wait just a moment, this happened in rehearsal - I got you covered (connects vehicle to power 'home' on stage). Now, as I was saying, as many of you already know - this Mirai is capable of supplying enough energy to power your home essentials as well as all of your consumer electronics in an average home for up to a week, in the event of an emergency."

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Sales, Automotive Operations:

"Traditionally, intellectual properties are fiercely guarded, because they have great monetary value. But with programmes like the CSRC (Collaborative Safety Research Centre) Steve and our patent announcements today - it's obvious that there can be a higher societal value in openly sharing our IP. By eliminating the traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the metabolism of everyone's research and development and move into a future of mobility, quicker, more effectively and more economically. Indeed, I believe that today marks a turning point in automotive history. I'm going to close with a quote that captures the idea from President Abraham Lincoln, who said: 'The best way to predict the future, is to create it'. And that's what we're doing at Toyota."

4. Close of screen reading: "Toyota. #ToyotaMirai"

5. Wide of Carter on stage, UPSOUND: (English) "Please accept my thanks for all of you coming and I hope you enjoy CES tomorrow. Good afternoon"; applause

As thousands of enthusiasts pack the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for a closer look at the newest tech gadgets, most of the serious talk is about the latest line-up of ultra high-definition TVs and just how thin they are getting.

TVs are grabbing all the headlines at this year's CES.

Electronics makers are responding to consumer demand and that means - make it bigger and thinner.

The Consumer Electronics Association expects TV sales to increase two percent to 251 million units this year.

The average screen size is projected to be 40 inches, up from 31 inches in 2007. CEA predicts more than 23 million of the units will be 4K TVs this year, about 2.5 times the shipments in 2014. That's even with the explosion of viewing on tablets and smart phones.

One of the key drivers in this consumer market is the falling price of the technology.

TVs with 4K capabilities have started to drop below USD $1,000, but they are still a few hundred dollars more than regular sets.

Consumers also will likely have to pay more for 4K content, the way service providers now charge a few dollars more for high-definition downloads. Netflix charges $12 for a streaming plan that supports 4K versus $9 for regular formats, for example.

However with the latest compression technology, consumers should be able to view 4K video with standard broadband packages, though the experience will be better with higher, pricier tiers.

Even more streaming is expected as content providers hop on the online train alongside the TV makers. Tensions likely will increase between content distributors and Internet access providers over who's going to pay for network upgrades - and how those costs might get passed down to consumers.

South Korean electronics maker LG is showing off its latest range of OLED (organic light emitting diode) 4K sets at CES.

Scott Steinberg, a technology analyst for TechSavvy.com gives his verdict of the latest range at the show.

He says: "So the ultra-thin TVs are certainly the latest examples of what you can see out of a company like Sony or LG. They're going to be moving towards higher definition, they're going to be moving towards picks a resolution that's much greater than anything you've seen before and going to be putting more and more of an emphasis on sleek, slim and well-designed products that are specifically designed to catch the eye and not just in terms of what's showing on their screens."

Japanese maker Sony went for the ultra-thin design with a new model that is just 4.9 millimeters.

The super slim device is certainly stealing a lot of the attention on the show floor.

Jeremy Breitkreuze, a spokesman for Sony explains: "It's coming out at 4.9 millimeters or .2 inches. A cool thing is that it does come with a wall mount, so that tv can be mounted against a wall and almost floating with a somewhat edgeless design. So when it's mounted to the wall it comes out at only about 4 centimetres."

Connectivity is an important part of the latest range of TV sets with more customers expecting the same level of functionality as they find on their smart phones.

"It's got our new Android operating system platform for the user interface, which allows you to do anything you can do on your phone, or imagine doing on your phone, you can now do on the TV itself," says Breitkreuze.

LG is also showing off its new G Flex 2, the successor to its popular curved smartphone.

Ken Hong, an LG Electronics spokesperson, says: "Something new that we're introducing here at CES 2015 is the second generation of our curved smartphone. This is called the G Flex 2 and as you can see not only is the back curved, but the glass is also curved."

This year's model features what the company describes as a "self-healing" casing.

Hong explains: "Something that's also unique to this phone in the industry is something we call the self-healing back cover and although it looks like it's just a regular, normal metallic cover what it does is very unique and that is it repairs itself. It repairs itself within a matter of seconds in fact."

At the show LG is showing how resistant its phone is to abrasion.

"It's designed to withstand the scratches that would normally see in your pocket. Car keys, coins and so forth. So those generally are not deep scratches," says Hong.

But high-tech isn't limited to just gadgets. Toyota took to the floor for its U.S unveil of the Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle, a car that runs on hydrogen.

Toyota spokesperson Craig Scott says: "So this is a car that runs completely on compressed hydrogen, so there are no engine parts, for example. It's a fuel-cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity and that electricity drives the electric motor which runs the wheels. So it operates just like a regular gasoline vehicle but without any combustion, and without any combustion that means no emissions. So it is a completely carbon-free driving experience."

Car makers are becoming an increasingly common fixture at the major international technology shows. Straying away from the boundaries of the traditional auto industry, car makers are keen to be seen as cutting-edge, according to tech analyst Scott Steinberg.

He says: "The reason you seen manufacturers like Toyota and other carmakers focus more and more on events like CES is because they're trying to emphasise technology as a differentiator. At the end of the day there's only so much you can engineer into a specific car from year to year, so they're looking at ways that apps, connected features and video and other elements can be used to help set their vehicles apart."

3D printers were also making a big splash at this year's event. 3D Systems unveiled its latest model, the Cube Pro, which can print in full CMYK-W colour.

Steinberg explains why 3D printing is such big news for 2015: "Last year 3D printing was very much in the concept phase it had a very limited range of applications. Now what you're seeing is 3D printing move to a space where you can create everyday household items, where you can create all sorts of things that you might use around your home as opposed to simply those that might be novelties or for techies alone."

CES is packed with objects created on 3D printers - with plenty of models printing live on the show floor.

From chess sets to jewellery - there seems to be no end to the applications for a 3D printer.

Avi Reichental, the CEO of printer maker 3D Systems says: "Everything that touches your life from your shoes and fashion to your food and creations is all going to be 3D printed."

He adds: "I think that people have been excited about with 3D printing for quite some time. What's exciting about it this year is that it's at a price point and functionality that makes it truly democratised to a point where anybody can have it at home."

3D Systems' printers even created jam... of sorts.

All of these guitars, keyboards and drums were created by a 3D printer and the result is harmonious.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January 2015.

The annual technology event is set to showcase more than 3,500 exhibitors including big tech companies like Sony, Samsung and LG.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 6 January, 2015

1. Various of LG Electronics 4K televisions

2. Mid of show visitors

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, Technology Analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"So the ultra-thin TVs are certainly the latest examples of what you can see out of a company like Sony or LG. They're going to be moving towards higher definition, they're going to be moving towards picks a resolution that's much greater than anything you've seen before and going to be putting more and more of an emphasis on sleek, slim and well-designed products that are specifically designed to catch the eye and not just in terms of what's showing on their screens."

4. Various of Sony Bravia 4K televisions

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Breitkreuze, Sony Spokesperson:

"It's coming out at 4.9 millimeters or .2 inches. A cool thing is that it does come with a wall mount, so that tv can be mounted against a wall and almost floating with a somewhat edgeless design. So when it's mounted to the wall it comes out at only about 4 centimetres."

6. Mid showing Sony's on-screen interface

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Breitkreuze, Sony Spokesperson:

"(It's) got our new Android operating system platform for the user interface, which allows you to do anything you can do on your phone, or imagine doing on your phone, you can now do on the TV itself."

8. Various of show visitors looking at ultra-thin Sony TV

9. Close of man holding LG Electronics G Flex 2 smartphones

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson:

"Something new that we're introducing here at CES 2015 is the second generation of our curved smartphone. This is called the G Flex 2 and as you can see not only is the back curved, but the glass is also curved."

11. Various of LG G Flex 2

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson

"Something that's also unique to this phone in the industry is something we call the self-healing back cover and although it looks like it's just a regular, normal metallic cover what it does is very unique and that is it repairs itself. It repairs itself within a matter of seconds in fact."

13. Close of G Flex 2 phone being scratched by abrasive

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson

"It's designed to withstand the scratches that would normally see in your pocket. Car keys, coins and so forth. So those generally are not deep scratches."

15. Close of G Flex 2 phone after it had been scratched by abrasive

16. Various of Toyota's Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Craig Scott, Toyota National Manager for Advanced Technology Vehicles:

"So this is a car that runs completely on compressed hydrogen, so there are no engine parts, for example. It's a fuel-cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity and that electricity drives the electric motor which runs the wheels. So it operates just like a regular gasoline vehicle, but without any combustion, and without any combustion that means no emissions. So it is a completely carbon-free driving experience."

18. Various details of Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, technology analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"The reason you seen manufacturers like Toyota and other carmakers focus more and more on events like CES and electronic shows is because they're trying to emphasise technology as a differentiator. At the end of the day there's only so much you can engineer into a specific car from year to year, so they're looking at ways that apps, connected features and video and other elements can be used to help set their vehicles apart."

20. Various of Mirai's chassis and fuel cell

21. Various of Cube Pro 3D printer

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, technology analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"Last year 3D printing was very much in the concept phase it had a very limited range of applications. Now what you're seeing is 3D printing move to a space where you can create everyday household items, where you can create all sorts of things that you might use around your home as opposed to simply those that might be novelties or for techies alone."

23. Close of 3D printed chess piece

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Avi Reichental, 3D Systems CEO:

"Everything that touches your life from your shoes and fashion to your food and creations is all going to be 3D printed."

25. Close of 3D printed jewellery

26. Close tilt down of 3D printed glasses

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Avi Reichental, 3D Systems CEO:

"I think that people have been excited about with 3D printing for quite some time. What's exciting about it this year is that it's at a price point and functionality that makes it truly democratised to a point where anybody can have it at home."

28. Close of 3D printer head creating object

29. Close of 3D printed shoes

30. Pull out of 3D printed electric guitar and drum kit

31. Various of musicians playing 3D printed instruments

Wearable technology is all the rage at this year's gadget fest known as Internatonal CES in Las Vegas.

Dozens of different smart watches are being showcased, some to make phone calls, while others can monitor your health.

Fashionable accessories are also all the rage, like a handbag which doubles as a portable speaker.

There are all kinds of virtual and augmented reality goggles and glasses, including this combination headphone-visor prototype featuring new display technology where the image is projected directly into your eyes.

"It's called a virtual retina display," said Avegant, CEO Edward Tang.

"How that's different from other display technologies is that there is no screen at all. The image is projected directly onto your retina."

Curved televisions are everywhere at the show, many featuring new 4k technology, packing four times the amount of pixels into HD tvs.

"You are putting four times the amount of pixels in the space that you currently see," said VP of Marketing for RCA, Jonathan Zupnik.

"High definition today is two million. These sets produce eight million, giving you a sharper picture and also allowing you to sit closer to your TV and still see a wonderful picture."

And for the first time in CES history, virtually every major auto manufacturer is at the show to demonstrate new connected car concepts, which take navigation systems and vehicle diagnostics to the next level.

"At some point in the future, you're going to see a convergence of automated driving, connected vehicles, new power trends like the fuel cell, all coming together and creating a new mobility that I think people are really going to enjoy for the future," said Toyota, Corporate Manager, Jim Pisz.

AP TELEVISION

Las Vegas, Nevada - 7 January 2014

1. Wide shot of attendees walk under International CES arch

2. Medium shot of giant LG display greets arriving attendees

3. Closeup of Undead Power earbuds

4. Closeup of GoPro helmet cam

5. Closeup ZeBracelet & ZeWatch

6. Closeup of Samsung Smartwatch

7. Medium shot of two runners wear Bluetooth Sports Gear smartwatch

8. Closeup of Bluetooth smartwatch close

9. Medium shot of two models hold AR For Her speaker bags

10. Closeup shot of speaker bags close

11. Closeup of Oculus Rift virtual reality headset

12. Closeup of Vuzix smart glasses

13. Medium shot of Avegant Glyph virtual retinal display

14. Closeup of adjustable retinal display

15. Closeup of turning setting on retinal display

16. SOUNDBITE (English): Edward Tang, CEO - Avegant

"It's called a virtual retina display. How that's different from other display technologies is that there is no screen at all. The image is projected directly onto your retina."

17. Medium shot of LG curved televisions

18. Medium shot of LG flexible television

19. Medium shot of Changhong curved televisions

20. Wide shot of Panasonics curved "ribbon" television display

21. Medium shot of Sharp's 4K televisions

22. Medium shot of Toshiba's 4k televisions

23. SOUNDBITE (English): Jonathan Zupnik/VP of Marketing - RCA

"You are putting four times the amount of pixels in the space that you currently see. High definition today is two million. These sets produce eight million, giving you a sharper picture and also allowing you to sit closer to your TV and still see a wonderful picture."

24. Closeup of Audi Quattro connected car

25. Medium shot of Volvo's connected car at Ericsson booth

26. Medium shot of Mustang at Ford Motors booth

27. Medium shot of Corvette at Chevrolet booth

28. Medium shot of Mercedes Benz display

29. Closeup shot of Qualcomm displays 4G-embedded car

30. SOUNDBITE (English): Jim Pisz/Corporate Manager - Toyota

"At some point in the future, you're going to see a convergence of automated driving, connected vehicles, new power trends like the fuel cell, all coming together and creating a new mobility that I think people are really going to enjoy for the future."

31. Medium shot of Toyota i-Road single passenger electric car

32. Medium shot of another futuristic Toyota concept car

Advances in television technology are taking centre stage at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, with manufacturers showcasing curved TVs and 4K screens.

Wearable technology is also all the rage at this year's gadget fest known as International CES in Las Vegas.

Dozens of different smart watches are being showcased, some to make phone calls, while others can monitor your health.

Fashionable accessories are also all the rage, like a handbag which doubles as a portable speaker.

There are all kinds of virtual and augmented reality goggles and glasses, including a combination headphone-visor prototype featuring new display technology where the image is projected directly into your eyes.

"It's called a virtual retina display," said Avegant CEO Edward Tang.

"How that's different from other display technologies is that there is no screen at all. The image is projected directly onto your retina."

Curved televisions are everywhere at the show, many featuring new 4k technology, packing four times the amount of pixels into HD tvs.

"You are putting four times the amount of pixels in the space that you currently see," said VP of Marketing for RCA, Jonathan Zupnik.

"So, you can go larger in a smaller space."

And for the first time in CES history, virtually every major auto manufacturer is at the show to demonstrate new connected car concepts, which take navigation systems and vehicle diagnostics to the next level.

"At some point in the future, you're going to see a convergence of automated driving, connected vehicles, new power trends like the fuel cell, all coming together and creating a new mobility that I think people are really going to enjoy for the future," said Toyota, Corporate Manager, Jim Pisz.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of attendees walking under International CES arch

2. Mid of giant LG display greeting arriving attendees

3. Close of Undead Power earbuds

4. Close of GoPro helmet cam

5. Close of ZeBracelet & ZeWatch

6. Close of Samsung smartwatch

7. Mid low view of two runners wear Bluetooth Sports Gear Smartwatch

8. Close of Bluetooth smart watch

9. Mid low view of two models hold AR For Her speaker bags

10. Close of speaker bags

11. Close of man wearing Oculus Rift virtual reality headset

12. Close of man wearing and adjusting Vuzix smart glasses

13. Close of Edward Tang, CEO, Avegant Glyph putting on virtual retinal display

14. Close of adjustable retinal display

15. Close of turning of settings on retinal display

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Edward Tang, CEO, Avegant:

"It's called a virtual retina display. How that's different from other display technologies is that there is no screen at all. The image is projected directly onto your retina."

17. People looking at LG curved televisions

18. Model standing next to LG flexible television

19. Mid of Changhong curved televisions

20. Panasonics curved "ribbon" television display

21. Sharp's 4K televisions

22. Toshiba's Ultra HD 4K televisions

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jonathan Zupnik, VP of Marketing, RCA:

"You are putting four times the amount of pixels in the space that you currently see. So, in a sense, high definition today is two (m) million. These sets produce eight (m) million, giving you a sharper picture and also allows you to sit closer to your TV and still see a wonderful picture. So, you can go larger in a smaller space."

24. Audi Quattro connected car

25. Volvo's connected car at Ericsson booth

26. Mustang at Ford Motors booth

27. Corvette at Chevrolet booth

28. Mercedes Benz display

29. Qualcomm displays 4G-embedded car

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Pisz, Corporate Manager, Toyota:

"At some point in the future, you're going to see a convergence of automated driving, of connected vehicles, of new power trends like the fuel cell, all coming together and forming a new mobility that I think people are really going to enjoy for the future."

31. Toyota i-Road single passenger electric car driving in small circle

32. Another futuristic Toyota concept car

LEAD IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

LEAD IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

AP TELEVISION

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2015

1. Mid of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2015

2. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES)

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

4. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road."

6. Mid of Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, driving new Chevrolet Bolt EV

7. Wide of new Chevrolet Bolt EV coming to a stop

8. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

10. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience."

12. Mid of BMW employee preparing to park car using gesture control technology

13. Close of BMW employee's hands demonstrating gesture-controlled parking technology with smart watch

14. Various of BMW i3 self-parking

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Philipp Reinisch, BMW Group:

"With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

16. Tilt up as BMW i3 drives away

17. Pull out of sign reading (English): "Think New." at Volkswagen CES booth

18. Various of Volkswagen BUDD-e concept bus on display

19. Setup shot of Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen, talking to media

20. Cutaway of video camera screen

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

22. Various of Volkswagen employee demonstrating BUDD-e gesture control technology

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient."

24. Wide high shot of CES show floor

25. High shot of CES attendees on show floor

25. Various of Toyota FCV Plus on display

26. Various of Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

27. Various of Rinspeed employee demonstrating retractable steering wheel for autonomous driving

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

29. Various of drone sat on Rinspeed 'Etos' rear

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them."

31. Tilt down to Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

LEAD-IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

LEAD-IN:

200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.

STORY-LINE:

This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.

The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.

The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.

The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.

Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.

If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.

The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.

The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.

Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.

The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.

But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.

Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.

Ok, so cars parking themselves is nothing new - but this BMW i3 has been fitted with gesture control. Its driver swipes his wrist and the smart watch he is wearing communicates with the car... the car rolls slowly into life and parks itself.

Philipp Reinisch from the BMW Group says: "With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.

The company unveiled a futuristic battery-powered concept of the bus called the BUDD-e. VW expects it to be able to go 373 miles (600 kilometres) on a single charge, far longer than electric vehicles today, due to a more efficient battery technology.

Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management at Volkswagen says: "It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

The Budd-e has internet connections to smart home devices and can be charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 15 minutes, VW claims.

It also has gesture recognition technology to control the infotainment screen, and the doors can be controlled by voice commands.

VW didn't say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e "demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019."

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient," says Diess.

VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

While some auto makers like General Motors will be looking to boost current car sales, companies like Rinspeed will be looking years - perhaps decades - into the future.

The Swiss car makers unveiled a self-driving concept car called 'Etos'.

A total of eight HD exterior cameras visually monitor the vehicle's surroundings, establishing 180-degree panoramic views, virtual exterior mirrors and no blind spots.

Inside, there's a retracting steering wheel which creates added space when in auto-pilot mode, allowing drivers to explore two curved 21.5-inch Ultra HD widescreen monitors or simply read a book.

Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed says: "In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

The Etos comes complete with an on-board DJI drone to snap road selfies during journeys... or even more unusual missions.

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them," says Rinderknecht.

It may seem like science fiction for some, but Rinspeed's Etos concept vehicle may inspire cars of the future.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January in Las Vegas and over 3,600 exhibitors are showing off their latest consumer tech products and services.

Las Vegas, US - 4 January 2015

1. Mid of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2015

2. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES)

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."

4. Various of Faraday FFZERO1 electric concept car on display

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief, Faraday Future:

"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road."

6. Mid of Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, driving new Chevrolet Bolt EV

7. Wide of new Chevrolet Bolt EV coming to a stop

8. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."

10. Various of new Chevrolet Bolt EV

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Tavel, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV:

"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience."

12. Mid of BMW employee preparing to park car using gesture control technology

13. Close of BMW employee's hands demonstrating gesture-controlled parking technology with smart watch

14. Various of BMW i3 self-parking

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Philipp Reinisch, BMW Group:

"With gesture control parking, it's possible to move your car using a gesture. You activate the car first by shaking your arm like this and then you're doing like a tennis forehand and sending the car into the free parking space."

16. Tilt up as BMW i3 drives away

17. Pull out of sign reading (English): "Think New." at Volkswagen CES booth

18. Various of Volkswagen BUDD-e concept bus on display

19. Setup shot of Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen, talking to media

20. Cutaway of video camera screen

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"It's much more, it's high technology, it's a long-range electric car, it's fully-connected, it's a very emotional car and it will be state of the art by the end of this decade."

22. Various of Volkswagen employee demonstrating BUDD-e gesture control technology

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen:

"The car will be an integral part of the internet, probably the most important part in the internet. The car will be always online, fully connected, we will have automotive cloud which will make the car really safe to drive, very convenient."

24. Wide high shot of CES show floor

25. High shot of CES attendees on show floor

25. Various of Toyota FCV Plus on display

26. Various of Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

27. Various of Rinspeed employee demonstrating retractable steering wheel for autonomous driving

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"In my opinion, whether you drive a sports car or a sedan, once you're traffic you're stuck and then you want to do something else, you want to maybe work, you want to entertain yourself, you want to read and that means that you need space and the steering wheel for those activities are just simply in the way."

29. Various of drone sat on Rinspeed 'Etos' rear

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frank Rinderknecht, CEO of Rinspeed:

"The drone is for us a sign of connectivity, it's also a twinkle of the eye. Let's assume it's valentines day, you forgot to order roses for your wife, you order them online, the drones goes and picks them up and even delivers them."

31. Tilt down to Rinspeed 'Etos' concept car on display

LEAD-IN:

Experts say 4K televisions, wearable technology and high-flying drones are set to dominate this year's International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The annual technology event is set to showcase over 3,500 exhibitors including big tech companies like Sony, Samsung and LG.

STORYLINE:

For people who love the latest technology, CES is the place to be.

Visitors and tech experts are set to pour into the exhibition halls of Las Vegas this January, coming face to face with the very latest gadgets and gizmos the world has to offer.

The International CES is claimed to be the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies.

Organisers says this year's event is set to attract 3,500 exhibitors, including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more.

There's set to be more than 150,000 attendees from more than 140 different countries.

Having gained a reputation for dictating the year's tech trends, it's now the job of others in the industry to anticipate the key talking points for 2015.

"CES is the biggest consumer electronics show on the planet," says Michael Gorman, the editor-in-chief of Engadget, a technology web magazine.

"And there's always going to be phones and tablets and laptops and washing machines, the stuff that people know about. But there are tremendous amounts of technology that are maybe a little less useful, but are equally interesting and maybe even cooler than a lot of the stuff that you see. So, it might not be something that you'll buy but it's fun to know about. It's the kind of things you see on Facebook or Twitter or whatever. It's just like, this is insane. I can't believe that this exists."

According to Gorman, ultra-high definition 4K televisions are set to dominate this year.

With screens that house four times more pixels than regular HD TVs, many consider Ultra HD to be the future in terms of home viewing.

But so far, lack of content and high prices have meant many are yet to make the jump to 4K.

Last year, both Samsung and Sharp unveiled 4K models.

South Korean tech makers LG Electronics have already confirmed they'll be showing off their new webOS 2.0 Smart 4K TV platform at this year's event.

"Of course there's always going to be lots about TVs," says Gorman.

"4K, it was a big thing last year. I think it's going to continue to be a big thing this year as well. I think it's probably going to be more about content this year. The TVs already exist, the prices are coming down a little bit more. I think this year it's really going to be about what are we going to watch on those big beautiful screens we've got."

From rings to bracelets to watches and headsets, wearable technology is set to take on countless forms at CES 2015.

With South Korean tech makers Samsung having taken the plunge into wearable technology in the form of their Galaxy Gear smart watch, others are set to follow suit.

Many are expected to show off their own take on the wearable trend at this year's event before US tech makers Apple release their own smart watch in early 2015.

"There's a much larger opportunity in real wearable things, whether it's rings and jewellery or actual clothing that has sensors," says Gorman.

"There's conductive thread that can actually make clothes have some electronic sensors built into them. So I think that's really going to be the one that will break away from the wristband form factor."

Whether it's in your car or in your home, smart connected technology is set to get people talking in Las Vegas convention centres this January.

One of the overriding trends in technology last year was connectivity.

That means home appliances controlled by apps on smart phones and tablets.

It could also mean people syncing their phones up to their cars, allowing them to gain much of the interactivity in their smart devices through their dashboards.

"There's apps that allow you to control your home temperature, Nest Thermostat, those kinds of things, I think we'll see a lot more of that," says Gorman.

"We've seen some bluetooth padlocks, door locks, sensors that will allow you to check and see if your cabinet with all your nasty little chemicals and things and you've got children in the house, it'll tell you when that door's been open so you can make sure your kids aren't getting into where they don't need to. Just sort of things like that. I think we're going to see a lot more smart home devices and WiFi connected things all over the house as well."

Visitors keen to catch everything at CES will also have to look skywards, according to Colleen Taylor, a reporter for technology website TechCrunch, drones are set to soar across the convention centre like never before.

The technology has come a long way in the past few years and now the flying gizmos are taking on various forms from toys to photography and filming tools.

US electronic commerce company, Amazon is planning to commandeer the high-flying technology to allow them to deliver packages to their customers around the globe.

"The big change has been that there are lots of things flying through the air on the show floor and that's definitely going to continue this year," says Taylor.

"Drone technology is huge, personal drones are very big. They just keep getting cheaper and they just keep getting easier to fly. So definitely at CES look up, not all of this stuff is just going to be on the floor."

While big tech-makers like LG Electronics, Samsung and Sony are set to get people talking at their high-profile press events, Taylor says small start-ups bringing their own unique gadgets deserve attention too.

This year's event is set to feature a 'Eureka Park Marketplace' which is dedicated to start-up companies.

There's set to be 375 exhibitors from the start-up community, 59 percent more than last year.

"Historically CES has really been about the big consumer electronics companies, the Sony's, the Toshiba's," says Taylor.

"And of course they're still really big players, but it's been very exciting to see in recent years great new products from small start-ups."

Automotive tech will also be a big talking point at the event.

A variety of self-driving cars and smart, integrated dashboards will demonstrate how seriously the car industry is taking putting tech into their vehicles.

A record 10 automotive manufacturers are set to exhibit at the event including Toyota, Ford, BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

Automotive exhibits will cover over 165,000 square feet of event space, 17 percent more than last year.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will run 6-9 January 2015.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2014

1. Mid of people watching screen display and wearing glasses

2. Wide of LG screen display

3. Mid of people entering convention hall at Consumer Electronics Show 2014 (CES)

4. Wide of people in front of wall of television screens reading (English): "World's first Ultra HD 3D Wall."

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2014

5. Various of woman wearing Oculus Crystal Cove virtual reality headset

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 9 January 2014

6. Pan right across Filip watches

AP Television

San Francisco, US - 18 December 2014

7. Set up shot of Michael Gorman, Engadget Editor-in-Chief, working in office

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Gorman, Editor-in-Chief, Engadget:

"CES is the biggest consumer electronics show on the planet. And there's always going to be phones and tablets and laptops and washing machines, the stuff that people know about. But there are tremendous amounts of technology that are maybe a little less useful, but are equally interesting and maybe even cooler than a lot of the stuff that you see. So, it might not be something that you'll buy but it's fun to know about. It's the kind of things you see on Facebook or Twitter or whatever. It's just like, this is insane. I can't believe that this exists."

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2014

9. Tilt up of Bravia televisions

10. Tilt down from sign to Aquos Quattron+ television screens

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2014

11. Over shoulder shot of visitors looking at television screens

12. Wide of visitors

13. Mid of Samsung bendable Ultra HDTV showing various images

AP Television

San Francisco, US - 18 December 2014

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Gorman, Editor-in-Chief, Engadget:

"Of course there's always going to be lots about TVs. 4K, it was a big thing last year. I think it's going to continue to be a big thing this year as well. I think it's probably going to be more about content this year. The TVs already exist, the prices are coming down a little bit more. I think this year it's really going to be about what are we going to watch on those big beautiful screens we've got."

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 8 January 2014

15. Close of smart bracelet being assembled and put on wrist

16. Close of smart ring being assembled and put on finger

17. Various of man demonstrating "Myo" gaming armband

AP Television

San Francisco, US - 18 December 2014

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Gorman, Editor-in-Chief, Engadget:

"There's a much larger opportunity in real wearable things, whether it's rings and jewellery or actual clothing that has sensors. There's conductive thread that can actually make clothes have some electronic sensors built into them. So I think that's really going to be the one that will break away from the wristband form factor."

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 9 January

19. Close of voice activated search navigation system in car

20. Mid of man sitting in driver's seat navigating touch screen

21. Close of hand moving joystick

AP Television

San Francisco, US - 18 December 2014

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Gorman, Editor-in-Chief, Engadget:

"There's apps that allow you to control your home temperature, Nest Thermostat, those kinds of things, I think we'll see a lot more of that. We've seen some bluetooth padlocks, door locks, sensors that will allow you to check and see if your cabinet with all your nasty little chemicals and things and you've got children in the house, it'll tell you when that door's been open so you can make sure your kids aren't getting into where they (don't) need to. Just sort of things like that. I think we're going to see a lot more smart home devices and WiFi connected things all over the house as well."

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 7 January 2014

23. Various of Parrot MiniDrones being demonstrated

AP Television

San Francisco, US - 18 December 2014

24. Setup shot of Colleen Taylor, TechCrunch reporter, working at desk

25. Close-of Taylor scrolling through TechCrunch website

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Colleen Taylor, TechCrunch reporter:

"The big change has been that there are lots of things flying through the air on the show floor and that's definitely going to continue this year. Drone technology is huge, personal drones are very big. They just keep getting cheaper and they just keep getting easier to fly. So definitely at CES look up, not all of this stuff is just going to be on the floor."

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2014

27. Mid of man singing 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and demonstrating 'Singtrix' unit

28. Mid of man demonstrating male to female voice function on 'Singtrix' unit

AP Television

San Francisco, US - 18 December 2014

29. Mid of Taylor working at laptop

30. Close of Taylor looking at screen

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Colleen Taylor, TechCrunch reporter:

"Historically CES has really been about the big consumer electronics companies, the Sony's, the Toshiba's. And of course they're still really big players, but it's been very exciting in recent years to see great new products from small startups."

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 6 January 2014

32. Wide of Navia driverless car rolling by Vegas mural

33. Onboard shot of Navia rear

34. Wide of Navia driving past with woman onboard

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus003493

WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY IS ALL THE RAGE AT THIS YEAR'S GADGET FEST.

DOZENS OF DIFFERENT SMART WATCHES ARE BEING SHOWCASED..SOME TO MAKE PHONE CALLS...OTHERS TO MONITOR YOUR HEALTH.

AND ACCESSORIES LIKE THIS HANDBAG WHICH DOUBLES AS A PORTABLE SPEAKER.

(speaker nats)

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY GOGGLES AND GLASSES...INCLUDING THIS COMBINATION HEADPHONE-VISOR PROTOTYPE FEATURING NEW DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY.

[SOT/Edward Tang, CEO & Co-Founder - Avegant ("auv-ah-gant")] ("It's called a virtual retina display. How that's different from other display technologies is that there is no screen at all. The image is projected directly onto your retina.")

SPEAKING OF DISPLAYS, CURVED AND FLEXIBLE TELEVISIONS SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE HERE, MANY FEATURING NEW 4K OR ULTRA HD TECHNOLOGY.

[SOT/Jonathan Zupnik/VP of Marketing - RCA] ("You are putting four times the amount of pixels in the space that you currently see. High definition today is two million. These sets produce eight million, giving you a sharper picture and also allowing you to sit closer to your TV and still see a wonderful picture.")

[SOT/Haven Daley/Associated Press]

("And for the first time in CES history, virtually every major auto manufacturer is showing off their connected cars here at the show.")

[SOT/Jim Pisz ("pies")/Corporate Manager - Toyota] ("At some point in the future, you're going to see a convergence of automated driving, connected vehicles, new power trends like the fuel cell, all coming together and creating a new mobility that I think people are really going to enjoy for the future.")

THE FUTURE ALSO PROMISES SOME HIGH-TECH CONCEPT CARS AS WELL.

HAVEN DALEY, ASSOCIATED PRESS, LAS VEGAS.

[Location: Las Vegas, NV]

[Source: AP]

[Video: CES Gadgets]