Beijing, July 16 (IANS): No need to hold the steering wheel or step on the gas, Chinese scientists have now created a car that you can control with nothing more than brainpower.

Developed by a research team from the Nankai University in Tianjin, in collaboration with Chinese car maker Great Wall Motor, the new vehicle was presented to the world for the first time on Wednesday, Xinhua reported.

The car is controlled via a headset with 16 sensors that send impulses from the user's brain to the car's processing system.

Spectators watched as the vehicle moved forward and backward; and was locked and unlocked -- all with the help of the power of the mind.

The sensors capture brain signals and the recognition system analyses them, translates them into driving instructions and sends them to the car's processor.

Duan Feng, associate professor at the university's computing and control engineering department, said there was still some way to go before the technology can be put into production.

"The technology is quite mature. However, there is some room for improvement concerning the car's electronics, which will make the vehicle more secure, intelligent, and user-friendly," he said.

The technology could transform driving and help disabled people to drive, he added.