Back in October, new patent filings submitted by Porsche provided some clues about the automaker's future self-driving car plans. The designs showcased a new type of seat that can push away and recline, allowing the driver to relax when the car is cruising in self-driving mode.

Now, Taycan EV Forum has discovered another patent design submitted by Porsche that could preview a unique comfort feature the automaker is planning to implement into its future self-driving cars. The patent application submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows a car with a unique adjustable roof.

There's no doubt this is intended for an autonomous car because the patent summary describes it as "a device to improve comfort in an autonomous driving mode." When used in autonomous driving mode, the roof can be raised to increase cabin space. Combined with the reclining seats, this will allow occupants to travel in crisp comfort over long distances in Porsche's future self-driving cars.

On the flip side, the roof can also be lowered to improve the car's aerodynamics, providing a sportier driving experience for purists when driving in manual mode. Potentially, the Porsche Taycan could eventually be updated with Level 4 or full Level 5 self-driving tech with over-the-air updates.

This means the reclining seats and adjustable roof could be added to the electric sports car or an all-new model in the future. While the patents don't necessarily mean these new design features will enter production, it's clear that Porsche is already considering potential tech for its future self-driving cars.

Porsche is also reportedly developing a "Mark Webber" mode for autonomous cars to help drivers improve their skills at the race track by showing braking points, where to accelerate, and the best racing lines based on laps driven by the former Formula 1 driver.