Sony Introduces VISION-S Concept Car At 2020 CES

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was once a place for companies to show off upcoming technology. But as more automakers delve into the world of technology, the show has become a place for car manufacturers to showcase radical concepts, upcoming technology, or cool features. Apparently, CES has also become a place for companies that have had no history with cars to show off vehicles, like Sony did with its VISION-S Concept car. We were not expecting to see a car from Sony.

Sony makes laptops, high-end headphones, and, of course, the PlayStation videogame console. The company, though, believes that it has a lot to bring to the automotive realm, hence the introduction of the concept vehicle. Looking similar to the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model 3, the VISION-S Concept was made in coloration with a few major companies in the industry, including Bosch, ZF, Continental, and Nvidia. It’s an all-electric sedan that utilizes a platform from Magna Steyr and is packed with a dizzying amount of sensors.

Let’s start with the electric powertrain. From what we know, the VISION-S Concept has two 268-horsepower electric motors – one at the front and one at the back – endowing the vehicle with all-wheel drive. Getting from zero to 62 mph only takes 4.8 seconds, while the sedan has a top speed of 149 mph. Not bad from a vehicle from a non-automotive brand. The concept sedan uses a skateboard-style chassis that can be used in various body styles, including coupes, SUVs, and vans.

On the inside, it’s easy to see where Sony injected its expertise. The most noticeable thing on the inside of the VISION-S Concept is the panoramic screen that spans most of the dashboard. The two passengers in the back get their own screens that are embedded in the back of the front headrests and the concept features 360 Reality Audio, which means speakers are embedded in the seats for 360-degree panoramic audio.

The VISION-S Concept is also a high-tech concept that’s looking toward being able to drive autonomously with 33 sensors, solid-state LiDAR, sensor fusion technology, and Time-of-Flight in-cabin sensing solutions, which help detect, as well as recognize people and objects inside the vehicle. The latter is used to provide passengers with a more intuitive experience that includes gesture control. Having 33 sensors allows the concept car to detect pedestrians and objects outside of the vehicle.

Sony surprised everyone with the VISION-S Concept. It’s a handsome electric vehicle that has decent performance and cutting-edge technology – it sounds pretty darn cool. But we highly doubt that Sony will be coming out with a car that consumers can actually buy at a dealership anytime soon. If anything, the VISION-S Concept proves that tech plays a larger role in the automotive industry than ever before and traditional automakers aren’t the only ones that can build vehicles anymore.