Thinking out of the box

Thinking out of the box

As the traditional motor show fades into folk memory, the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has become the number one showcase for the latest automotive technology.

Even with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic forcing some manufacturers to “go virtual” with their product launches, the event is still the best place to identify future trends in mobility. Technology companies are increasingly eyeing the auto industry as the next frontier for communications, infotainment and connectivity – all of which are crucial to the industry’s enduring ‘holy grail’ – self-driving cars.

The focus is, as always, on urban areas, as that is where autonomous vehicles are likely to play the most significant role. Taxis, ride-sharing and, especially, deliveries appear to be the main focus of AV activity.

The AV as “box on wheels” is always a feature of CES, and there were several cube-shaped debutants at the 2022 event.

Israeli-based Ree Automotive revealed an autonomous urban delivery concept vehicle based on a new modular EV platform. The concept is aimed at last-mile delivery companies, delivery fleet operators and e-retailers.

The 2-tonne concept vehicle is 3,400mm long with front-wheel steer and rear-wheel drive. It has a 50kWh battery capacity. All steering, braking, suspension, powertrain and control components are placed into a compact module in each corner of the vehicle between the chassis and the wheel.

Drive-by-wire technology controls all aspects of the drive, and as a result the vehicle has a completely flat floor. It’s narrow, too – just 1,400mm wide – for enhanced manoeuvrability.

Udelv Transporter

California-based start-up Udelv also showed its take on an autonomous delivery vehicle. The Udelv Transporter is designed to handle multiple deliveries – up to 80 stops per cycle. Goods such as parcels can be placed in separate partitions, and the vehicle can autonomously travel over a set route of up to 300 miles depending on battery pack.

Udelv claims it has 1,000 orders for the Transporter, which uses Intel’s Mobileye self-driving systems. Udelv said it aimed to start production in 2023 and have 50,000 Transporters operating on public roads by 2028.

LG Omnipod

LG is the one Korean industrial giant that has steered clear of the automotive sector as anything other than a tech supplier – but at CES it revealed the Omnipod, a vehicle it has designed itself. The concept is basically a mobile personal living space, designed to function as a home office, entertainment centre or lounge. The concept showcases in-car infotainment systems that can be controlled via smartphone or voice command through the LG ThinQ app, a smart home solution service. “Adding cars to the LG ThinQ ecosystem, will continue to lay out new customer experiences and blur boundaries between spaces, so that user experiences at home can be seamlessly extended to cars,” LG Electronics Chief Executive Officer William Cho said.

Sony Vision S-02

LG is not the only global tech company making a major play into the auto sector. Sony actually showed a range of cars, a sign of how serious the company is about getting into automotive. Sony rolled out a new concept SUV called the Vision-S 02, alongside the Vision S-EV saloon shown in 2021. And it backed up the cars with the announcement that it would this year launch Sony Mobility, a new company that will focus on EVs – and that could lead to a full range of Sony cars.

“We are exploring a commercial launch of Sony’s EV,” said Kenichiro Yoshida, the company’s chairman and CEO, adding that he wanted to find out how a “creative entertainment company” can redefine mobility.

Qualcomm Snapdragon

Specialist suppliers such as Qualcomm are playing an increasing role in helping automakers develop new technologies, especially in terms of connectivity and in-car displays.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon systems include a ‘Digital Chassis’ of software to control automated driving and connectivity, using 5G technology alongside Bluetooth and precise positioning. The system also includes the Snapdragon Cockpit, a digital display and infotainment system.

Volvo and Honda have already announced plans to integrate this digital cockpit into upcoming electric vehicles, and Renault, which has already committed to bringing the cockpit into future cars, is planning to use the digital chassis.

Mercedes Vision EQXX

Automakers largely stayed away through Covid fears, including Mercedes, which nonetheless launched a luxury four-door EV concept called Vision EQXX, which Mercedes claims is the first EV to break the 1,000km range barrier (621 miles).

The Vision EQXX is a minimalist concept, where its features have been tailored to maximise range. It has a highly aerodynamic four-door body with squared-off ‘kamm tail’, and the styling lacks most contemporary Mercedes design features, including the traditional grille. Inside, a full-width 47.5in digital display spans the front of the car, while the car has AI-generated expressive voice models – giving it a “personality”.

BMW iX Flow

BMW showed a version of its iX electric SUV with an innovative paint finish that can change colour. The BMW iX Flow is laminated with an electrophoretic film containing microcapsules the diameter of a human hair.

Each capsule contains differently charged white, black or coloured particles which become visible when an electric field is applied, creating what is known as an Electronic Paper Display (EPD) – the same principle as used in e-readers such as the Kindle Paperwhite.

The prototype can only change between black and white, allowing users to give their car a personalised look to match their mood. BMW also showed an ultra-high-resolution 8K ‘Theatre Screen’, a wide rear entertainment screen that descends from the car’s headliner to keep back seat passengers entertained.

Togg SUV Concept

Togg is a new name in the car world – the company is a joint venture between a number of Turkish industrial corporations.

It’s highly ambitious too, with the goal of becoming a “Turkish Tesla”, producing a million vehicles in five segments by 2030 – with the first model launched in 2022. The company claims it will “bring together advanced electric, autonomous and connected technologies within one design sphere”.

The Togg SUV has been designed by Italian stylist Pininfarina, and it will be followed by a C-segment saloon and hatchback, a smaller SUV and a medium-sized MPV, all using the same basic platform.

Chrysler Airflow

Chrysler has now abandoned the European market, but versions of this handsome electric SUV, the Chrysler Airflow, are likely to form part of the ranges of other Stellantis brands in the future.

Chrysler has revived the historic Airflow name, first used on a streamlined, art deco-influenced car in 1934. The Chrysler brand will launch an EV in 2025, carrying over some of the Airflow’s design, and by 2028, it’ll be an all-electric company.