Seven things I learned about the Sony car while playing Gran Turismo inside one

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses Sony's upcoming electric car, the Afeela, which is being developed in collaboration with Honda. It provides details about the prototype that journalists were able to interact with, including features like the door opening mechanism, the wide screen display, and the integration with Sony's Gran Turismo video game.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Afeela Prototype Experience

1. What were the key things the author was able to do with the Afeela prototype?

• The author was able to:
  • Sit inside the Afeela prototype and interact with it
  • Play a Gran Turismo video game version of the car on the prototype's screen
  • Test the door opening mechanism, which now includes a physical button in addition to the app and facial recognition options
  • Observe that the wide screen display will have a privacy filter to prevent the driver from being distracted by the passenger's section

2. What was the author not able to do with the Afeela prototype?

• The author was not able to drive the actual Afeela prototype, as Sony Honda Mobility stated that test drives will not be available until next year at the earliest, and possibly not until 2026.
• Many of the prototype's features, such as the digital side mirrors, rear view mirrors, and touchscreen user experience, were still just mockups and not fully functional.

[02] Afeela's Technical Details

1. What are the plans for the Afeela's entertainment and AI features?

• The Afeela will use Sony's PS Remote Play app to stream games from a nearby PS5, rather than having a PS5 console installed in the car.
• Sony Honda Mobility is developing an "interactive personal agent" for the car in collaboration with Microsoft, using the Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, with the goal of the car's AI prompting the user with questions and anticipating their needs.

2. What are some of the unique design features of the Afeela?

• The Afeela has a digital billboard across the front bumper that can display text and Sony-related content.
• The car's digital motor sound can be tuned to sounds inspired by Sony properties, including the Crunchyroll anime streaming service.