Sony’s new Vision-S electric car spied testing
Spies catch the Sony Vision-S prototype undergoing development, but will the car make it to production?
The Sony Vision-S electric car has been spied testing at a facility in Europe this week.
While it's unclear whether the Vision-S will be badged as a Sony product or sold under a different brand name, it appears the battery-powered vehicle is edging closer to a production reality.
Powered by dual 200kW electric motors, it's expected the Sony car will hit 100km/h from a standstill in well under five seconds.
Details of the car's battery have yet to be unveiled, but rumours suggest the tech giant is working towards offering a long driving range and fast charging speeds to rival segment leader Tesla.
Inside, Sony has fitted a number of high-definition screens into the dash for infotainment, which the company describes as an "immersive video and sound system".
It's reported the Vision-S offers Level Two+ semi-autonomous driving – including radar cruise control, self-park, and auto lane-changing – yet with around 40 sensors built into the vehicle, it's expected Sony is developing Level Four autonomous driving capability, potentially with the idea to sell to other car makers.
While Apple has been searching for a car maker to build its future car, Sony has tasked Austrian company Magna Steyr with building the Vision-S – the very same company responsible for manufacturing the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the BMW 5 Series, and the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra twins.
Sony has yet to confirm whether the Vision-S will enter production, instead calling the vehicle a testbed for innovative technological development.
MORE: Our Sony Vision-S coverage
MORE: Electric car news