Honda Plan New EV Line
Honda announced plans at CES to launch a new global line of dedicated electric vehicles starting with a sedan in the U.S. in 2026. The portfolio of EVs from what Honda are calling their ‘0 Series’ will revolve around two concept vehicles unveiled at the show: the Saloon and Space-Hub.
They will be the models for Honda’s design and engineering approach for the production vehicles. The first Honda 0 Series vehicle will be based closely on the Saloon concept.
The Saloon is a futuristic, low-slung sedan with a wagon-like silhouette and a front end that resembles an anteater. It is the flagship concept model of the Honda 0 Series. Honda said the human-machine interface will provide intuitive operation as well as superior visibility and a sporty driving position. The Saloon also will have new steer-by-wire technology and motion control systems. A production vehicle based closely on the Saloon concept will debut in the U.S. in 2026. It launches subsequently in Japan, Europe and other markets.
Sony and Honda unveil latest AFEELA electric car prototype at CES 2024
Sony Honda Mobility brings out the latest prototype of the AFEELA electric car at CES 2024 using a PlayStation 5 controller. The recent concept remains the same as the prototype that was unveiled at CES 2023, but this time, AFEELA is gearing towards mass production.
The recent electric vehicle design with artificial intelligence capabilities is packed with technological features, following the announcement of the mobility company with Epic Games, Microsoft, and Polyphony Digital.
The Afeela will come with ultra-wideband sensors and cameras. As the driver approaches, the car greets them with a light and automatically opens the doors. Once inside, Afeela runs an authentication process to make sure the driver is the right owner and sets up the destination and route map on a panoramic display. As they drive, the sensors and cameras monitor every angle, watching traffic conditions and providing driving assistance based on the external data acquired.
ony Honda Mobility uses the potential of AI, sensors, and cameras by giving Afeela the ability to park itself autonomously when the driver leaves the car. At CES 2024, Sony Honda Mobility president, and COO Izumi Kawanishi told the press that Afeela also features a thematic cabin that allows the driver to choose a certain theme for their driving experience. The car will then automatically change its lighting, sound, and display to correspond to the chosen theme.
Outside, an LED light strip at the front of the car acts as an external information display. It can alert anyone outside the car about certain information such as flashing a warning sign if the vehicle is too close to a rear bumper, projecting the battery percentage, or playing animated sequences to make it look like billboard advertising on the go.
the 2024 concept appeared more production ready than last year’s show car, with actual side view mirrors in place of the cameras and headlights that are more realistic than those on the earlier car. The Afeela is set to go into production in 2025 with sales beginning in 2026. A starting price of $45,000 has been hinted at.
VinFast to show electric pickup concept, VF 3 microcar
VinFast presented two vehicles at CES: an electric pickup and the VF 3 microcar that could sell for under USD $20,000.
They didn’t give details on the pickup, calling it the company’s “latest electric vehicle concept” and releasing a teaser photo that showed an elevated truck body alongside the brand’s VF 8 compact crossover.
Also in the teaser photo is a yellow VF 3 with a white roof. The microcar, which VinFast call “a mini eSUV” for its chunky styling and ample ground clearance, was designed as an inexpensive model for Vietnam. VinFast presented the VF3 last year in Vietnam and said it would launch in the second half of 2024.
Turkish EV Maker Togg Expand Line, Eye Germany Launch in late ’24
The Turkish EV startup Togg will double the size of their lineup by adding the T10F fastback, which will be sold alongside their debut model, the T10X SUV. Starting in late 2024, the company, founded in 2018 and currently selling only in Turkey, aim to start selling both models in Germany, beginning with the SUV.
The company set a goal of having 1 million vehicles on the road across Europe by 2032. Like the SUV, the fastback is a compact model. Both models are made on Togg’s C-segment (compact) platform.
To get to that level the T10F will offer a suite of ADAS that includes intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality that works in conjunction with a traffic sign detection system; lane-keeping capability and lane-departure warning; a surround-view camera; blind spot and driver attention warning systems, and automatic parking assist.
Togg said the design of the T10F and T10X are the result of its design studio’s collaboration with Italian styling specialist Pininfarina.
