Watch: Sony Afeela EV Driven on Stage Using PlayStation Controller at CES 2024

With a PlayStation 5 controller, Sony Honda Mobility unveiled the most recent iteration of the Afeela electric car prototype at the 2024 edition of CES (Consumer Electronics Show). The latest design is still based on the prototype that debuted at CES 2023, but the firm is aiming for mass production of the electric vehicle this time. Since the partnership of the mobility firm with Epic Games, Microsoft, and Polyphony Digital was announced, the latest EV design with artificial intelligence capabilities has been jam-packed with a multitude of technological features. Izumi Kawanishi, the President and COO of Sony Honda Mobility stunned the crowd at CES 2024 by taking a PS5 DualSense controller from its holster and using it to operate the Afeela electric car on stage. In a video uploaded by the firm, the EV can be seen arriving on the stage at 03:03. Take a look.

Although remarkable, using a PlayStation controller to call on the Afeela to stage isn't an actual feature. This, according to Kawanishi, was merely a tech demo.

Sony Afeela EV: Expected Powertrain Details

Sony has already showcased the Afeela at prior CES events, sharing additional information about the vehicle's development with the public each time. The most recent prototype appears to be a sneak peek at the road-going model, with an improved design that suggests the EV is getting closer to production. The vehicle is anticipated to be released in 2026. 

The concept, which Sony and Honda developed together, is propelled by two electric motors that are connected to an all-wheel drive system. This indicates that power is sent to all four wheels via the electric motors installed in the front and back axles. With the 241bhp peak power output from each of these electric motors, the vehicle should have a combined output of 482bhp. A 91kWh lithium-ion battery pack powers the electric motors. While Sony Honda Mobility has stated the EV would have an 11 kW Level 2 charging capability in addition to a 150 kW DC toast charger, it has not disclosed much data regarding the Afeela sedan's drivetrain.

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Sony Afeela EV: Exterior Updates

Among the most visible design elements are a redesigned front bumper and an elongated snout with a built-in digital display. Sleek headlamps sit under a lighted strip, to either side of the digital display. The revised prototype has conventional side mirrors and larger pillars. It is anticipated that the taillights and rear bumper will be modified as well.

Sony Afeela EV: Dimensions

In addition to the styling enhancements, the sedan's dimensions have also been revised. With a wheelbase of 3,000mm, the car's length has now increased to 4,915mm in length. It measures 1,900mm in width and 1,460mm in height. This indicates that the new prototype is 20mm longer than the old one. The wheelbase, height, and width, however, are unchanged.

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Sony Afeela EV: Interior Features

When you step inside the cabin, the vehicle doesn't change much from the preceding prototype. Nonetheless, a redesigned centre console is present, complete with two wireless smartphone chargers. Additional interior features include a revamped rearview mirror and a slightly modified steering wheel.

The enormous, ultrawide dashboard display of the car is filled with 3-D graphics and visuals powered by Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5.3. With internet-sourced information combined, drivers and passengers may now enjoy intricate 3D maps, virtual places, and augmented reality views of the area surrounding the Afeela. The simulated settings that are used to instruct its multi-camera driver assistance systems are likewise rendered using UE5. The incredibly lifelike visuals produced by the gaming engine enable more precise training of the neural network processing and visual models that control the EV's driver assistance features.