There was a time when the automotive and consumer technology industries were very different from each other. However, with the rise of electric cars and Tesla, the line between the two is becoming blurred.
As a case in point, some of the most-watched car review videos on YouTube are from consumer technology creators like MKBHD. Another symbol of the convergence of the automotive and technology industries is the partnership between Sony and Honda to manufacture cars under the “Afeela” label.
This means we can expect to see even more high-tech, cutting-edge electric vehicles in the future. Here are five of the coolest concept cars we've seen recently.
Afira
At CES 2024, Sony once again demonstrated an EV prototype vehicle under the Afeela banner. Sony Honda Mobility COO Izumi Kawanishi took to the stage driving a car using a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller. While the company wasn't too forthcoming about performance specs, it did reveal how it will feature a giant, ultra-wide dashboard screen that extends the width of the car, with another screen packed into the bumper.
honda 0 saloon
While nearly every other major global automaker has jumped on the EV bandwagon, Honda is currently staying out of the race for the most part. But this year, the company decided to shake up the EV world by showcasing the new Honda 0 series EV concept.
The Honda 0 Series Saloon will be the automaker's flagship electric vehicle if (and if) it becomes reality. It is equipped with a new EV-specific platform and features a low and wide appearance. Sustainable materials are used extensively both inside and out. It also includes a feature Honda calls “Attitude Control,'' which assists the driver in a variety of situations.
honda 0 space hub
While this saloon was futuristic to begin with, Honda's Space Hub looks like something from an even further future with fully autonomous robotic driving. The Space Hub looks like a kind of minibus or van that seats four people, two side by side and two facing each other. Needless to say, both the Saloon and Spacehub seem far from production models, so it may be a while before we actually see vehicles like this on the roads. Still, it's quite possible that the production model will be radically different from the concept.
BMW Vision Neu Classe X
BMW's Neu Klasse is the company's answer to the likes of Tesla, which is increasingly likely to eat into the German manufacturer's market share as people move to electric cars. The Bavarian car giant recently unveiled the Neu Classe X, which is built on a new platform for electric vehicles and could debut as early as 2025.
BMW already has electric cars like the i7, but the Neu Klasse X is a vision for the future. Think of it as an electric version of the BMW X3 that people will drive until the late 2020s. Despite having a minimalistic dashboard with a screen, as made fashionable by Tesla, the BMW Neu Klasse X also has buttons for some functions, such as seat adjustment. If BMW says future cars will have buttons, I hope so.
Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class
When you mention BMW, it's hard to leave Mercedes out of the conversation, and it's no different here. The company unveiled the concept CLA-Class at last year's Munich Motor Show, and it is designed as an electric vehicle with a promised range of up to 750 kilometers. The company also says it will feature an 800V architecture (similar to the Tesla Cybertruck) and 250kW DC charging capability, potentially giving it a range of up to 400 kilometers in 15 minutes. Like the BMW Neu Klasse X, this car looks more like a production car than Honda's 0 series. So now all we have to do is wait.
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Date first uploaded: March 23, 2024 16:14 IST
