Instead, look for the technology to roll out gradually, building on systems that are already available, like adaptive cruise control, active braking, lane-keeping systems and parking assist.

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Ford's outfitted the Fusion Energi with a dizzying array of driver-assist tech, including a lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise control, driver alert system, active park assist, rear camera, blind-spot indicator system with cross-traffic alert and pull-drift compensation (phew).

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Research is being done on autonomous braking technology, which can stop a car when other vehicles or obstacles get too close, and lane-keeping support, which applies a correcting force through the steering if the driver drifts out of their lane.

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Autonomous driving in slow traffic is a logical combination of adaptive cruise-control and the lane-keeping systems, already available in some vehicles, which either warn the driver if the car starts to drift out of lane, or apply corrective steering to keep it in lane.

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Between the blind-spot monitoring system, the active lane-keeping, the adaptive cruise control (maintaining a set distance to the vehicle ahead), and the "precollision" system, which uses internal cameras to monitor drivers' faces for signs of inattention, the GS350 is about as close to an automated auto as you'll find on the market.

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The guidance is accurate, it offers pinpoint GPS precision -- so good that it'll tell me exactly when to exit a roundabout -- it alerts me when I'm speeding and the advanced lane guidance is perfect for keeping me on the right path.

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