Gradually, the joint project between Sony and Honda is structured. A new prototype has just been unveiled at CES in Las Vegas. Sony Honda Mobility’s future electric cars have even found a name: Afeela.
Sony is once again taking advantage of CES in Las Vegas to present, during its keynote on January 5, 2023, a prototype of its electric car. It is this model that should go into production by 2026 under the Afeela brand. Sony is still discreet about the performance of the vehicle, because for them the added value of their model is elsewhere.
At the first announcements in 2020, it was hard to believe that Sony would go through with its electric car project. Many tech brands have embarked on this niche, but few succeed, not without having swallowed up colossal investments. Sony is moving forward slowly but surely, gradually refining the project and surrounding itself with the best partners (Honda, Qualcomm, Epic Games). A cautious strategy, but perhaps a little too much in the face of Chinese brands that do not take 6 to 7 years to release a new vehicle.
What we know about the new Afeela/Sony prototype
If we discovered the name of the brand during this presentation, we have no name for this new prototype. Overall, it seems quite close to the Vision S-01 concept, which the brand had presented in previous years, but it incorporates a few changes.
The front face has evolved, in particular at the level of the lights which are now integrated in the continuity of the strip which runs over the entire width. The main novelty lies in this banner which incorporates a screen called “media bar”. The idea of the teams working on the project is to make it possible to broadcast different types of information in this banner: from the weather, to the indication of recharging, through the promotion of the latest Spider-Man film.
The rear also seems to have changed in appearance compared to previous concepts. The roof line no longer really leaves room for a break in the trunk. The curves are very close to the design of a drop of water, certainly with the idea of improving the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
The only factual technical data we have to date are the dimensions of the vehicle: 4.89 m long, 1.90 m wide and 1.46 m high. The wheelbase is 3 m, which will give a particularly spacious space on board. On the other hand, given the look of the car, you should not expect a trunk suitable for long family trips.
We also know that it will be equipped with 21-inch rims and that it is a 4WD model.
Safety and entertainment for this top-of-the-range model
The model presented can accommodate 5 passengers in an environment that the brand wants to be particularly safe and pleasant. We knew that Sony was targeting the premium market for its electric vehicle. The first feedback on this new prototype leaves no doubt about it. Lucid, like Tesla, will have a new competitor in a few years. Moreover, Sony also adopts a Yoke steering wheel quite similar to that of Tesla.
Sony has once again insisted on the 45 cameras and sensors that equip the exterior, like the interior of the vehicle, to ensure maximum security. The prototype is equipped with level 2 driving aids, and the brand is already working to achieve level 3 autonomous driving.
Like the small Honda e, the entire width of the dashboard will be covered with screens: with the two camera mirror control screens at the ends, and large tiles for infotainment and driving information. We could see the touch of the car manufacturer Honda in this project, except that the screens are much larger than on the small Japanese city car.
The rear passenger seats will also have screens. On board this model, you can have fun watching movies with surround sound or playing games, including with virtual reality. Afeela wants to make mobility truly enjoyable for all occupants.
By the way, why this name Afeela?
What you need to remember about the name of the new brand is the word “feel” in the center of the name. This is the heart of this new entity created by Sony Honda Mobility.
Yasuhide Mizuno, CEO of Sony Honda Mobility Inc, explained it this way during the press conference: AFEELA expresses an interactive relationship in which people “feel” mobility as an intelligent entity, and mobility perceives people and society using sensing and network computing technologies. »
According to the schedule announced by the brand, pre-orders will be made in the first half of 2025 for customers residing in North America, with deliveries starting in 2026. For the moment, Afeela has not specified whether the model will be aimed at also to the European market. It would still be surprising if the brand did not venture there, especially with the help of its partner Honda. On site, Sony also asked several European journalists, including those of Numerama, if they thought that the vehicle would appeal to Europe.