Sony has said in the past that it has no desire to build a car, but it does seem like that could change. Back in 2020, Sony unveiled the Vision-S concept at the CES Show in Las Vegas. Now it’s followed up that concept, which is now called the Vision-S 01, with a new electric crossover called Vision-S 02.
The Vision-S 02 is a seven-seater EV that measures 192.7 inches long, 65 inches tall and 76 inches wide. It’s based on the same platform as the Vision-S 01. It has two 268 horsepower electric motors, one on each axle to give it all-wheel drive.
Sony is using the Vision-S 02 to showcase a long list of technologies. It features LiDAR sensors to provide a 360-degree view of what’s around it. The concept isn’t an autonomous vehicle, since Sony says that it’s waiting for the government to approve Level 2+ driver assistance tech in Europe.
Since Sony specializes in audio and gaming systems, it’s no surprise that the speakers can create a three-dimensional sound effect. Drivers can also customize the sounds that the Vision S-02 makes when its accelerating or decelerating. The concept also has a fully-integrated digital video service called Bravia Core that displays images on a panoramic screen in the front and individual screens in the back. The infotainment system can also connect to a PlayStation device remotely to let passengers play their Playstation games on the go.
Sony hasn’t announced any production plans for either concept, but it has announced that it will launch a division called Sony Mobility in March 2022, which will look at a possible Sony electric car.
