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 PlayStation and Microsoft's AI technology.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Sony Honda Afeela Prototype

1. What features of the Afeela prototype were journalists able to experience?

• Journalists were able to press a physical button underneath the window to open the door, in addition to the existing methods of using the smartphone app or facial recognition.
• The wide screen display will have a privacy filter to prevent the driver from being distracted by the passenger's section.
• Journalists were able to play Gran Turismo 7 on the Afeela's screen using Sony's PS Remote Play app, but there are no plans to include a PS5 console in the car.
• The car will have a "conversational personal agent" developed in collaboration with Microsoft, with the goal of anticipating and responding to the user's needs.
• Many features of the current prototype, such as the digital side mirrors, turn signal stalks, and touchscreen user experience, are still just mockups and not fully functional yet.

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

• The Afeela prototype has a digital billboard across the front bumper that can display text or Sony-related content.
• Journalists were able to customize the text displayed on the bumper screen using the companion smartphone app.

[02] Afeela Test Drives

1. When will journalists be able to test drive the Afeela?

• According to Sony Honda Mobility, test drives for journalists are not planned for this year, but may be possible next year. The company states that test drives will be provided "as soon as possible in line with the vehicle development schedule," which could potentially be as late as 2026.