The name of the car consists of the word feeling. To “feel” everything that happens on the road and in the cabin, the car will have as many as 45 different sensors. For communication with people, there is a long LED strip between the headlights. It will “communicate” with the help of light.

what is known

There is much more to see, but Yasuhide Mizuno, CEO of the new brand, says: The car will use Sony’s expertise in artificial intelligence, entertainment, virtual and augmented realityto deliver a unique result.

Reported sensors will include: cameras, radar, ultrasound and lidar. They are scattered over the entire outer surface of the car, which will improve the ability to detect objects and move autonomously.

The prototype presented on stage looked little like the concept first shown by Sony at CES three years ago. Instead, it was a hatchback with a light strip at the front, a closed grille, and a glossy black roof. Some reviewers noted that the Afeela prototype looks like a mix of Porsche 911 and Lucid Air.

Afeela car presentation / Photo: Autoevolution

Interestingly, despite such a large number of sensors and cameras, until now only the second level of autonomy has been declared, but there are plans to move to the third level. The company isn’t in a rush to make big announcements about Autopilot like Tesla does.

External vehicle sensors Afeela / Photo Autoevolution

Car interior / Photo by Autoevolution

In this partnership, Honda is responsible for the automotive component and Sony for the entertainment component. Smart car technologies will be based on the capabilities of Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, and the graphical user interface will be implemented on the basis of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.

The new electric car will be priced to compete with other premium automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo and Audi. Sony wants its software to offer subscription services, so car owners will likely have to pay a monthly fee to access certain features.

Afeela electric car / Photo by The Verge

The first Afeela will be assembled at the Honda plant in Ohio, USA. Pre-orders will begin in 2025 and actual sales will begin in 2026.