The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is a major event for the tech industry, but it’s also a significant showcase for the latest and greatest in the automotive world. This year, CES 2023 saw a number of new car technologies unveiled by various companies.
As mentioned in our previous blog post, Ram introduced its first fully electric pickup truck, the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV, at CES 2023. The vehicle boasts a stretched cabin, smooth bodywork, and a rail system that allows for customizable seating arrangements, as well as a powered mid-gate that includes third-row jump seats and a pass-through for objects up to 18 feet in length. Its electric motors on the front and rear axles provide all-wheel drive, and the steering wheel can even retract into the dashboard for Level 3 autonomous driving. The exterior features a stretched wheelbase, a swept-back windshield, a blacked-out front end, and LED headlights with a “tuning fork” design. The truck also has a powered frunk, a charge port, flush door handles, side steps, and a rear step. The tailgate can open outward to extend the bed for larger loads. The cabin is four inches longer than the current gas-powered truck and boasts a dual display setup totaling 28 inches of touchscreen. It also has a 360-degree camera system, an AI-powered voice-activated assistant, and augmented reality in the head-up display. The 1500 Revolution is set to hit the market in 2024.
One of the most notable was the BMW i Vision Dee concept car. The car is able to change colors and display facial expressions on its digital interpretation of BMW’s kidney grill, using 240 individual E Ink panels. The car’s interior is virtually switchgear-free, with a steering wheel featuring vertical spokes and dual touchpads, and the entire windshield acting as a display. The windshield’s content can be controlled by the driver using touch-sensitive controls on the dashboard, and BMW refers to this feature as the Mixed Reality Slider. The car’s exterior includes a charging port and a display on the hood, while the interior includes a heads-up display that projects onto the windshield and a dashboard that acts as a touchscreen display. The car is expected to arrive in 2025.
Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture between Sony and Honda, has revealed a prototype of a new electric sedan. The prototype, which is set to be sold in the US as soon as 2026, will be part of a new brand called Afeela. The sedan is equipped with 45 cameras and sensors and is powered by Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Digital Chassis system-on-a-chip, as well as a collaboration with Epic Games on the entertainment side. Afeela will start taking orders in 2025 and plans to start deliveries in North America in 2026. The sedan will offer Level 3 autonomous driving “under limited conditions” with Level 2 driver assistance available in more situations. Sony also plans to open up the car to partnerships with customers and “our automotive industry partners”.
Google announced that it is working with Spotify to integrate the Connect streaming tool into the Android user interface (UI). The company also previewed an audio handoff feature that suggests different devices to move music onto based on user habits and location. In addition, Google revealed that its higher-resolution maps will be available on the Polestar 3 and showed off the updated Android Auto interface for the first time. The new Android Auto interface will adapt to larger screen sizes and feature a split screen layout, with a left panel for alerts and a right panel for suggested playlists. The left panel also serves as a container for alerts that users can deal with later.
Another notable product was the Ring Car Cam from Amazon’s Ring division. This dual-facing dashboard camera can record both inside and outside a car while driving or parked, and connects to Wi-Fi to upload footage. If there is a break-in, the camera’s sensors will automatically start recording and send a real-time notification to the owner’s smartphone. The owner can then use the camera’s built-in microphone to speak to the person breaking into the car. The camera is part of the Ring system and works with Alexa, allowing users to say “Alexa, record” to start recording in the event of a traffic stop or minor accident. The camera connects to the owner’s home WiFi and has optional LTE functionality for an additional $6 per month. The Ring Car Cam is available for preorder for $200 or can be purchased for $250. It will begin shipping in February.
These are just a few examples of the new automotive technologies that have been unveiled at CES 2023 so far. For a more in-depth look at the event’s highlights, check out our round-up of the wildest and wackiest tech seen this week.
