LAS VEGAS—At CES this year, BMW showed off a concept car as part of its "i Inside Future" exhibit, which was built upon the idea that car interiors could be more friendly and inviting. With its rich textures and light wooden accents, the concept car feels more like an artisanal nook than a cold vessel of technology.

But arguably more interesting than its holistically-designed frame is the new HoloActive Touch system, which builds on BMW's earlier AirTouch dashboard system.

AirTouch debuted at CES 2016 and uses sensors on the dash to pick up hand gestures. It allows you to control parts of the information system without pressing any physical buttons. HoloActive Touch adds a new layer by placing holographic action buttons near the center console. The buttons provide haptic feedback when "pressed" using a hand gesture. BMW told Ars that this concept car was mostly designed with autonomous vehicles in mind and likely wouldn't be a reality for another 15 years. Nevertheless, it was exciting to play with now. Check out the video below to see a demo of HoloActive and BMW's concept car.