The CES show in Las Vegas, which used to be called the Consumer Electronics Show, usually has cars and technology that are more advanced than what you might see at a regular auto show. This year, Edmunds went and reported on the most significant automobiles as well as what new technology car buyers may see in the coming years.
THE TALKING CAR FROM BMW
BMW had one of the more innovative concepts at CES. The I Vision Dee is a talking electric car with artificial intelligence that “will go well beyond the degree of voice control and driver assistance systems we are familiar with today,” according to BMW.
“Dee” is an acronym that stands for Digital Emotional Experience. One important feature is a high-tech head-up display that can project virtual reality onto the windshield and show driving information on the whole windshield. BMW claims that the AI can become excited when it sees you and convey emotions through screens on the front grille.
As if that wasn’t enough, the I-Vison Dee has 240 e-ink panels, including the wheels, that allow it to change colors at will. You could drive a purple car one day and then switch to a checkerboard pattern the next.
These may appear to be far-fetched characteristics, but BMW claims they are real items available in 2025 and beyond.
HONDA AND SONY ARE OBSESSED WITH FEELING
With their new joint venture brand, Afeela, these two well-known businesses hope to thrill vehicle buyers. They displayed their otherwise nameless prototype electric midsize vehicle at CES. They didn’t say much about the sedan’s range or power, but they did say it would have 45 cameras and sensors for automated driving. Afeela also promises “best-in-class entertainment,” A small screen on the grille will show information to both people walking by and the owner of the car.
Honda hasn’t decided yet how Afeela will affect its other upcoming electric cars, but preorders will start in the first half of 2025 and deliveries will start in the spring of 2026.
THE ELECTRIC REVOLUTION OF RAM
The Ram Revolution idea is a sneak peek at what the brand’s first electrified pickup might look like. Some of the most important features are third-row jump seats, a steering wheel that can be pulled back, a glass roof that can be tinted in different ways, and an 18-foot pass-through that lets large items be moved from the bed to the front trunk.
Stellantis, Ram’s parent firm, did not respond to questions about the Revolution’s range or power. Some of the Revolution’s high-tech features may not see production because this was a proof-of-concept prototype, but we’ll know more when the production model is presented later this year. The Revolution is scheduled to go on sale in 2024.
SEDANS GET A DOUBLE DOWN ON VOLKSWAGEN
Volkswagen came back to CES after six years away to show off its first electric sedan, the ID.7. The ID.7 will be large; its 116.9-inch wheelbase is comparable to that of the Tesla Model S. The ID.7 has a range of roughly 435 miles, according to Volkswagen, but that is based on the European testing cycle, so that the figure will be different in the United States.
The ID.7 comes equipped with a 15-inch touchscreen, digitally controlled air vents, and an augmented reality head-up display. VW plans to reveal the final production model in the second quarter of 2023.
VOLVO FOLLOWS A HIGH-DEFINITION MAP
The Volvo EX90 is a seven-seat electric SUV described as a “very advanced computer on wheels” by the firm. According to Volvo, the EX90 will have a range of approximately 300 miles and an electric engine capable of delivering up to 496 horsepower. On the other hand, Volvo emphasized the EX90′s Google HD map integration at CES.
HD maps provide additional detail about road landmarks and other features to improve the vehicle’s awareness of the road. When combined with the EX90′s suite of cameras, radars, and sensors, the more comprehensive maps allow the SUV to have a more accurate sense of its position on the road. Volvo says that the EX90 has all the technology you need to drive with your eyes and hands closed. It won’t be available at first, but Volvo says it will permit it once it can ensure its safety.
Customers can begin configuring their EX90s this fall, but delivery will not begin until early 2024.
EDMUNDS SAYS: We’re wary of some of the claims made about autonomous driving because it’s still a difficult nut to crack, but we’re enthused about high-tech vehicles and color-changing body panels that will be available shortly.
SOURCE – (AP)
