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Sony’s Vision S EV is a collection of the latest in modern automotive technology. Though unlikely to see full-scale production, it’s still a big deal.
Visions of Things to Come
Back in the before times of January 2020, Sony unveiled an electric car prototype at CES 2020 in Las Vegas. The Vision S EV caused a bit of a stir because A: it had all the hallmarks of a legitimate new entrant into the EV space, and B: this was Sony, a major global conglomerate with lots of technological knowhow at its disposal. At the time, Sony was adamant that their intention with the Vision S was as a showcase for new automotive technology and not as a production vehicle.
Flash forwards a year and in January of 2021 and Sony says they’ve commenced with road testing the Vision S EV in Austria as of December 2020. Sony reiterated that the Vision S would not be heading toward largescale production. And yet, the Vision S prototype appears so thought through, so much R&D obviously having been poured into it, and now the further step of road testing leaves you wondering if Sony might have grander ambitions than they’re letting on.
What We Know So Far
Production car or prototype, it’s hard to not be impressed with Sony’s Vision S EV. Built with help from Austrian firm Magna Styer, whose EV platform will also underpin the Fisker Ocean crossover EV, the Vision S comes in the form a typical four-door sedan, and, at first blush, the car sports all the modern EV characteristics. There are the obligatory light bars spanning the front and rear end of the vehicle. There are the pop-out door handles which are both a cool party trick and a concession to the imperatives of aerodynamics in a world beset by EV range anxiety. There’s the all-glass panoramic sunroof. And then there’s Sony’s nifty EV logo.
The Vision S features two electric motors each putting out 268 horsepower for a combined 536 horsepower which Sony says equates to a 4.8 second sprint to 100 km (62 mph) and a top speed of 149 mph. For a car not intended to production, it’s a bit of an odd boast.
Raison D’etre, Tech Showcase
Despite the allure and intrigue of a new EV from a proven tech titan, once you start taking Sony at their word, that the Vision S is a showcase for automotive technology the firm is looking to develop for other auto manufacturers, is when things really get interesting.
Nowhere is that more apparent than in the Vision S’s cabin where you’ll find a massive continuous digital screen spanning the entire dashboard. The driver gets both a digital gauge cluster and a full infotainment suite which seamlessly transitions to a passenger side screen ready for streaming and gaming. The touchscreen sports crisp graphics, practically zero lag, and full haptic feedback. There are also twin 10.0-inch screens for rear seat entertainment, too. Taken as a whole, it’s impressive and hard to imagine automakers not at least being curious about a possible partnership with Sony.
But screens are just the beginning, Sony says their main focus for the Vision S is autonomous driving technology. The Vision S carries no less than 40 sensors and cameras including side cameras similar to those found on the Audi e-Tron and Honda e EV. Sony says the car is currently capable of Level 2 autonomous driving, which is right in line with the likes of Tesla’s Autopilot and GM’s Super Cruise. But Sony adds that the Vision S is technologically equipped for up to Level 4 autonomous driving. It’s safe to assume that a good part of the test driving done at the beginning of this year was to test its autonomous driving capabilities.
Dream or Reality?
With their goals of autonomous driving, increased safety, and dazzling entertainment, Sony’s Vision S EV looks to have the goods to contend with the best in electric vehicles. Whether Sony decides to actually build the Vision S or merely use it to develop impressive (and economically scalable) automotive technology, the prototype is a shot across the bow that the “mobility” space has a significant new player on its hands.
