INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightSonyImage caption
Sony did not suggest that it planned to make the car commercially available
Electronics giant Sony has surprised attendees of the CES tech show by unveiling an electric car dubbed the Vision S.The vehicle is a
prototype designed to show off the firm's sensors and in-car entertainment technologies.The dashboard is flanked by an ultra-wide panoramic
screen "for driving information and entertainment".However, Sony did not indicate that it had any plans to sell the car to the public."We
will accelerate our efforts to contribute to the future of mobility," said Sony's chief executive Kenichiro Yoshida as he revealed the
surprise.Bob O'Donnell, from Technalysis Research, was at the press event."It was quite a shock to be honest with you," he told the
"It highlights how the company is reinventing itself."Image copyrightSonySony has put a total of 33 sensors into the Vision S prototype
The Japanese firm is known to have developed powerful image sensors that can be used to analyse the road in front of a vehicle.Mr O'Donnell
said that such technology could aid assisted-driving systems in future vehicles, helping judge when to apply the brakes or adjust the
steering but still leaving most decisions up to the motorist."Assisted driving could be as useful, in fact, in some ways even more useful
than autonomous driving," he added.
