Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
1

Hands-on: Sony’s Afeela needs to be more than a feeling

Jan 11, 2024 - theverge.com
Sony Honda Mobility's concept car, the Afeela, was showcased at CES 2024 with some improvements from the previous year, including big side mirrors, wireless phone chargers, and two 180kW motors. However, the company's focus seems to be more on the car's entertainment features, such as its ability to function as a movie theater and an advertisement platform for Sony movies and video games. The car also has a strip of screen that can play PlayStation games via a remote connection to a PS5 at home.

Despite the company's claim that the car will be available for preorder in 2025 and deliveries will start in 2026, many features are still undecided, including the car's speed, range, and basic driving functions. The company is also working on adding an AI "conversational personal agent" and developing vehicles that fuse the virtual and the real. However, the AI is not yet finalized, and the car currently lacks key features like Level 3 self-driving and a personal assistant.

Key takeaways:

  • Sony Honda Mobility's concept car, the Afeela, is still in development with a focus on entertainment features rather than traditional car functions.
  • The Afeela features two 180kW motors, a 91kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and up to 150kW fast DC charging, but its speed and range are still undecided.
  • Sony Honda is partnering with Microsoft to create an AI “conversational personal agent” and with Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital to develop vehicles that fuse the virtual and the real.
  • The company plans to start preorders in 2025 and begin deliveries in 2026, but many features, including a potential in-car PlayStation and Level 3 self-driving capabilities, are still undecided.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!