The Sony Vision-S electric car is now testing public roads in Europe, just a year after it appeared at the Consumer Electronics Show 2020 (CES).
Sony confirmed this as part of its CES 2021 show, releasing a short video of a camouflaged prototype that was being tested, but without giving any further details. The electric giant sees an increase in electrical connectivity and powertrains as an entry point into the automotive industry, but car manufacturing is a low-margin industry, which can be unattractive in the long run -time.
The prototype doesn’t seem to change much from last year’s display car, retaining the panoramic roof and screen that surrounds the dashboard (unlike the Byton M- crossover). Byte). It also has cameras instead of external mirrors, which would not work in the United States due to standard regulations.
Sony Vision-S prototype test
The Vision-S concept also included 33 on-board sensors, including 12 cameras, three solid-state lidar units, and nearly 20 radar and ultrasonic sensors. That sensor range would enable driver support features, but cameras would also be used to identify individual drivers and passengers, and to load personalized pre-orders, Sony said at the time.
Sony has previously talked about all-wheel drive powertrain, using a pair of 268-horsepower electric motors. The motors would get the 5,180-pound Vision-S concept from 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds, the company said.
Automotive provider Magna – which makes contracts manufacturing vehicles like the Jaguar I-Pace – provided engineering services for the original Vision-S concept. Magna has since unveiled a complete EV platform, which will be the basis for the Fisker Ocean remake. This may be a slightly different platform from the Vision-S concept, or perhaps an improved version of what was used for the Sony concept.