Sony and Honda just unveiled their new Afeela EV prototype
Published on Jan 05, 2023 at 3:03 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Jan 05, 2023 at 3:05 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The joint mobility venture between Sony and Honda revealed its first EV prototype at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Under the brand name ‘Afeela’, the prototype was rolled on stage as the new name and logo debuted on screen.
The four-door sedan looks similar to the Sony Vision-S concept revealed at the same event three years ago.
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The sedan features the Afeela logo which appears on a screen embedded in its front end.
The screen displays information to passersby like the weather, the car’s state of charge, or, as they showed onstage, an advertisement for Spiderman: No Way Home.
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The EV prototype also has a closed-off grille and a high-gloss black roof.
That’s in addition to black hubcaps and a light accent above the wheel wells, which are perhaps some of the more interesting features.
In all honesty, the Afeela prototype looks like a mashup between a Porsche 911 and the Lucid Air, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
As ever, most cool ideas shown in the concept car generally don’t make it to the production.
You may recall we previously covered how the new Sony-Honda EV could come with a built-in PS5.
Just imagine being able to play Gran Turismo 7 from the comfort of your car.
There’s a slim chance the PlayStation may actually appear in the production vehicle, maybe reserved for a range-topping model.
In addition to this, the Afeela prototype comes in with a Yoke-steering wheel.
Tesla tried going down the same route, facing a lot of backlash as people thought it was too gimmicky.
Afeela EV preorders
Preorders of the Afeela EV are set to open in 2025.
The EV will be sold first in the US in 2026, and then Japan and Europe at a later date.
Pricing is yet to be revealed but, ideally, the Afeela will have to compete with the Tesla Model 3, Model S and possibly the Lucid Air.
With that in mind, we can expect it to cost anywhere between $70,000 and $100,000.
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Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
