CES: Sony's Vision-S Electric Vehicle Concept Car Really Makes Sense

Sony, the company that brought us the Betamax and MiniDisc, on Monday unveiled its Vision-S concept car at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The Vision-S concept that crossed the stage does not seem to indicate that Sony intends to build a car anytime soon. Instead, the Vision-S showcases Sony's in-vehicle technology, which may be used in other automakers' vehicles in the near future.

There is much to see: the Vision-S concept features 33 sensors, including 12 cameras, three solid-state lidar sensors, and nearly 20 radar and ultrasonic sensors. The combined hardware monitors traffic and the road ahead as well as the driver and passengers in the vehicle. Sony said its camera and sensor array will support Level 2 driver assistance features already available, but its software is upgradeable to Level 4 autonomy, which is not yet available to the public.

The cameras can also recognize when a passenger or driver approaches the vehicle and load individual presets.

On the interior, the Vision-S is equipped with Sony's latest in-car audio technology: there are over 30 speakers in the Vision-S, with a pair in each of the four seatbacks. A huge panoramic screen spans the full width of the dash. In addition to the instrument cluster, central infotainment screen, and passenger-side screen, the Vision-S has monitors for the camera-equipped side mirrors at either end of the dash.

These all sound like plausible things we could see in cars within the next five years.

Where Vision-S takes a turn is in the details.

Unlike pictorial concepts by other suppliers, Sony's Vision-S has a steering wheel, switchgear, a measured wheelbase (118.1 inches) and length (192.7 inches), and weight and power specs. According to Sony, dual 268-horsepower electric motors drive each axle, enabling the Vision-S to accelerate to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds; the Vision-S weighs more than 5,100 pounds, with 245-mm and 275-mm staggered-width tires front and rear, respectively. The Vision-S is equipped with 21-inch wheels with 245mm and 275mm staggered-width tires front and rear, respectively. This is nearly identical to the Porsche Taycan, but the Porsche has a shorter wheelbase and its performance figures are more impressive. (To be honest, the Vision-S even looks like a Taycan, especially from the front.)

The Verge reported on Monday that the Vision-S's EV platform will be made by Magna and may be supplied to automakers looking for an off-the-shelf platform. (17]

It will be interesting to see where Sony's technology goes.

For more CES news, see our dedicated hub.