With the advent of digitization and connectivity to the automotive industry, the Las Vegas CES, the most important technology fair in the world, has become the perfect showcase for automotive brands to show the world their novelties in terms of operating systems, safety technologies and autonomous driving. It was not, at first, the right environment to present vehicles, but electric cars, which could be considered computers on wheels, have also changed this trend and have made the American fair also an attractive context in which to show their novelties.
At CES Las Vegas 2022, several car companies have been present despite the Covid to expose their latest technological advances. Some teach how Mercedes-Benz The BMW decided to abandon their participation at the last minute due to the advances of Omicron, but both have presented on their own the novelties that they had prepared for the exhibition in ‘La Ciudad del Pecado’. These are the novelties that the automotive sector has presented, or was going to present, at CES in Las Vegas 2022.
Mercedes-Benz
The german firm had reserved for CES the Vision EQXX, a saloon prototype capable of traveling more than 1,000 kilometers on a single battery charge. Thanks to a drag coefficient of 0.17, an electric motor tuned to minimize power loss and a more compact and lighter battery, this vehicle is the first electric vehicle that would be able to overcome that distance. Inside, in line with what is seen in cars like the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz bets on a huge screen from side to side of the cabin. Technology from this car is not expected in production vehicles until the middle of the decade.
BMW
The bavarian brand I also had a car ready for CES, but perhaps the most interesting developments are others such as the color change of the iX. Starting with the novelty, BMW presented the iX M60, the super sports version of the electric SUV, with a battery with a capacity of 111.5 kWh to power its electric motors, which deliver 610 hp and 1,100 Nm of maximum torque, capable of acceleration from 0 to 100 in 3.6 seconds and to travel up to 450 kilometers on a single charge. Aesthetically it is more radical than the rest of the versions, with specific elements such as its 21-inch wheels or the blue brake calipers.
The German premium brand, however, surprised with the iX Flow concept, a prototype derived from the iX SUV capable of changing color at will. This technology consists of a coating for the silhouette formed by sheets of microcapsules with black and white pigments that are stimulated by an electric field. With this system you can change the body color in just an instant at the touch of a single button. Other BMW innovations included Digital Art Mode, displaying Cao Fei art pieces on the infotainment system in combination with ambient lights and sound to create a “holistic user experience”; and the BMW Theater Screen, a 31-inch screen located on the roof of the passenger compartment to play multimedia content to the rear seats in resolutions up to 8K.
General Motors
General Motors had several firsts at CES in Las Vegas. In the vehicle section, they highlighted the Equinox EV, an electric version of their Equinox SUV, popular in the North American market. Far from being a simple electrical adaptation, it presents a renewed and more modern design with details such as the strip of light that joins the optical groups on the front. It will hit the market in 2023 alongside the Blazer EV, another electric SUV revealed at the Las Vegas show. There are no engine details yet but the price of the first one will be less than $ 30,000 (26,500 euros).
However, GM’s star at the show was the Silverado EV, the electric version of Chevrolet’s pick-up, a direct rival to the Ford F-150 Lightning. In this case, it will arrive in 2024 with 664 CV of power and 1060 Nm of maximum torque. It will be able to tow up to 4,535 kilos and inside it will show advances such as a 17-inch screen for the infotainment system. Its price will exceed $ 105,000.
As for the prototypes, Cadillac claimed the limelight with the InnerSpace Concept, a preview of an autonomous car that proposes a very spacious interior reminiscent of the living room of a house. A huge screen will occupy the entire dashboard to offer all the vehicle options to the user. It is aesthetically very futuristic and aerodynamic, with a roof line that falls to the end of the rear.
On the other hand, BrightDrop, also from GM, announced at CES that it already has reservations for its electric van, some from clients as important as Walmart, which has already ordered 5,000 units, or FedEx, with another 20,000. According to the company, the first deliveries will be made in 2023.
Stellantis
Chrysler, as one of the main brands of the Stellantis group in the United States, was the banner of the consortium at CES in Las Vegas with several firsts. The first was the announcement that the brand will be completely electric in 2028, launching its first electric in 2025. Along with this objective, the company presented the Airflow concept, a prototype vehicle that serves, above all, as a design test and propulsion system, so it does not anticipate broad outlines of what the brand’s electric futures will be. Aesthetically, it is very similar to the Porsche Taycan, especially at the rear, while mechanically it relies on two electric motors for a total power of 400 hp. It promises level 3 autonomy.
In parallel, Stellantis revealed that it has partnered with Amazon to develop a new digital instrument cluster called STLA SmartCockpit, which will offer unique functions depending on the vehicle and brand, with options more focused on offroad for Jeep or navigation and safety in Chrysler saloons. It will integrate the services of the e-commerce giant, as well as Alexa.
Like BrightDrop, RAM also announced at CES the opening of orders for the ProMaster EV, an electric commercial that has found, precisely, its first customer in Amazon. Deliveries, like its GM rivals, are slated for 2023.
Sony
Sony was one of the surprises at CES in Las Vegas with the Vision-S 02, an electric SUV that marks the arrival of its first car since they introduced the Vision-S Sedan, an electric saloon, two years ago. In this case, this SUV delivers 268 CV of power from two electric motors to offer all-wheel drive. Aesthetically, it bets on fluidity to gain aerodynamic efficiency, but it does not have particularly striking elements. The interior has multiple displays to provide content to passengers, front and rear, and information to the driver. Sony’s intention is to produce cars derived from both prototypes but there are no specific dates for their arrival on the market.
Hyundai
The South Korean firm presented the PnD pod concept at the US show, a prototype of an urban vehicle designed both for the transport of people and goods. This ‘capsule’ with wheels can be driven in any direction and would be electric electric and autonomous.
Amazon
Far from the automotive brands, Amazon was present with some novelties aimed at the automotive sector. In addition to its agreements with Stellantis, the firm led by Jeff Bezos will include Fire TV services on Ford and Lincoln cars. This service, which until now was only available in Jeep brand cars, offers the possibility of playing movies, series and other content through the central screen of the car, although only when the vehicle is parked.
For its part, Google’s car-specific operating system, Android Automotive announced a USB-A device so that older cars can link mobile phones to the Android Auto application wirelessly. At the same time, at the software level, he revealed that YouTube will include Volvo cars, which have used the Google system for years, and a new generation of the operating system, more powerful and faster, which will debut in the Polestar 3 this year.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.