TECH giants Sony have teamed up with Honda to reveal their first ever car that they claim will “become a relaxing place like a living room”.
Debuted at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, the innovative EV has just opened for pre-orders in California with deliveries expected to begin in mid-2026.
AfeelaSony and Honda are teaming up to build a tech-heavy new car that will be on US roads in 2026[/caption]
AfeelaThe stylish EV will include autonomous driving and a host of entertainment features inside[/caption]
AfeelaThe most striking feature in the cabin in the panoramic screen that stretches along the dash[/caption]
The joint venture forms the brand Afeela, which aims to rival the likes of Tesla with a range of luxury-tech EVs.
Sony originally showed off its Vision-S concept car way back in January 2020 before Honda joined the cause in 2022 to form Sony Honda Mobility.
Then, in 2023, SHM announced that its cars would be marketed under the Afeela brand.
This first release, which will be aptly titled the Afeela 1, will be available in two trims; Origin and Signature.
Origin will be its entry level option with prices starting at $89,900, while Signature will be more advanced and cost a whopping $102,900 – with 21in wheels, extra screens for rear seat passengers and more cameras.
Set for a range of around 300 miles, the real selling point is the car’s autonomous driving ability, which works using 40 different sensors.
Perhaps more gimmicky is the ‘Media Bar’ which can display messages on the front bumper to enable “seamless communication between drivers, passengers, and even people outside the vehicle, adding a new dimension of enjoyment to public spaces”.
This can also display charge status or even ‘digital stickers’, with plans for the car to display weather, traffic updates and even sports results.
Inside, the car will feature a range of tech, including a panoramic screen that stretches across the dash, along with Sony’s surround sound and noise cancelling technology.
There’s naturally an AI personal assistant too, which is able to have ‘natural conversations’ and will even initiate chats – a little bit like Knight Rider.
Sony’s website describes their vision for the future of cars as “mobility spaces” on wheels, akin to a living room, complete with music, video, and even full-scale video games.
This comes as Toyota has revealed the upgraded Prius for 2025 – which now features 19-inch black-finished alloy wheels and a black bumper trim.
But the biggest change coming this year is the new, exclusive color.
Elsewhere, rideshare brands will be putting commuters in driverless cars – despite cries of protest from unhappy customers.
One commuter said Waymo’s autonomous vehicles left him going in endless circles and warned Uber and Lyft riders to be wary of the new tech.
The top rideshare brands have announced that they are training staff to operate Waymo’s products ahead of a launch in the coming months, according to The Hill.
Uber plans to launch driverless rides first in the burgeoning tech hub of Austin, Texas, and then in some areas of Atlanta, Georgia.
They hope that ditching drivers for new technology can deflate heightened costs and bring more business.
The move comes as a surprise as Waymo has been investigated for causing crashes and was even temporarily suspended in San Francisco, California, last year.
AfeelaOrder books are already open in California with the release set for mid-2026[/caption]
AfeelaThe ‘Media Bar’ is one of the more unusual quirks, allowing for the driver to display messages on the car’s bumper[/caption]
https://www.the-sun.com/motors/13244976/ces-sony-honda-car-ev-2025/