CES – The annual Consumer Electronics Show could be renamed the Car, Electronics & Systems, such is the strong influence and presence of the automotive industry at the event, which this year marks five decades of innovative technology.
Major car brands renowned across the globe plus an emerging name displayed their latest offerings, but also demonstrated that they are providing a platform for collaboration with other companies, mainly start-ups to become significant players in the Internet of Things. Fleet Car’s Jarlath Sweeney was in Las Vegas to see the bright lights and attend the show too!
Chrysler
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has been studying the millennial generation in the US for more than 20 years, using research to gain insight into current and emerging wants and needs.
When it came to thinking about the future of family transportation, FCA US called upon the people who will own and live with such a vehicle – millennials working inside the company’s design and engineering functions – to collaborate on ideas. Armed with research on what the millennial generation values and desires, the team created a forward-thinking interpretation of the “fifth generation” of family transportation – the Chrysler Portal concept, created by millennials for millennials.
Millennials are tech savvy, environmentally aware and cost conscious. To balance those needs and to be an integral part of millennials’ lives, the Chrysler Portal concept is designed to maximize interior space with an impressive degree of flexibility between seating and cargo configurations; to enable users to include and expand their social media communities with seamless wireless integration between the vehicle and mobile devices; to take advantage of technologic advances in battery-electric powertrains and the growth of a rapid recharging network; and to deliver these capabilities in a powerful, high-tech form that uses LED lighting as a key design element, and not as a mere accent.
“The Chrysler Portal concept is backed by significant research on the millennial generation. Millennials have clearly defined that they want a vehicle that will grow with them as they experience life changes,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler & FIAT, FCA – North America. “FCA is a leader in family transportation and it was essential that we fully explored the idea of what a vehicle could look like for this emerging generation.”
Faraday
One of the biggest news stories for the global media attending the CES was that start-up Faraday Future unveiled the fastest self-driving electric car that can accelerate from zero to 60mph in 2.39 seconds – Amanda Stretton, former racing driver and motoring editor commented on the future of automotive technology at the event: “Faraday Future is combining the two hottest areas of growth in the automotive industry under one bonnet with the FF91. The new model has been described as the fastest electronic car in production and with autonomous functionalities capable of rivalling those of their competitor, Tesla. However, with driverless technology currently only in the early stages of development, the FF91 is still some way off from creating an electronic hybrid, capable of substituting a real person behind the wheel.”
“We are increasingly moving towards more and more vehicles having some level of autonomy. However, this doesn’t mean that we can call these vehicles ‘driverless cars’, as the motorist still has ultimate control over the car. The current technology is able to assist motorists, but is not yet a substitute for a driver. Driverless technology being introduced by Faraday Future, such as the ability to park once the driver has left the car is a step forward and, will still need to be subject to extensive testing to ensure safety.”
“Electronic cars capable of accelerating to the speeds described by Faraday Future, are also still in the early stages of development. With challenges such as infrastructure and cost, it is unlikely that we will see such cars on the market anytime in the near future. With the FF91 only at the demo stage, we still have a long but exciting way to go.”
Ford
Together with exhibiting a number of interesting vehicles at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, Ford Motor Company’s earlier announcement on the proposed electrification of some of its best-selling models shared the topics of conversation.
With most smartphone owners saying they use navigation apps while driving, Ford Motor Company is introducing new SYNC AppLink capability that will project navigation Apps directly from a smartphone to the vehicle touch screen. Sygic Car Navigation is first to take advantage of the new capability.
“Ford understands how customers are using their smartphones, so it’s important we offer them more choice in how they connect and control their capabilities in the car,” said Don Butler, Executive Director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services. “Our new SYNC AppLink mobile navigation capability will help keep drivers’ eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel while using the apps that they love.”
Inside the next five years Ford will have seven of its 13 new global vehicles electrified, including a plug-in hybrid Transit Custom van in Europe, hybrid versions of the iconic F-150 Pick-up and Mustang in the US, and a fully electric SUV with an expected range of at least 480 kilometres for customers globally.
The moves are part of a $4.5 billion investment in electrified vehicles by 2020, offering customers greater fuel efficiency, capability and power across Ford’s global vehicle lineup. The plans are part of the company’s expansion to be both an automobile and a mobility company, including leading in electrified and autonomous vehicles and providing new mobility solutions.
“As more and more consumers around the world become interested in electrified vehicles, Ford is committed to being a leader in providing consumers with a broad range of electrified vehicles, services and solutions that make people’s lives better,” said Mark Fields, Ford President & CEO. “Our investments and expanding lineup reflect our view that global offerings of electrified vehicles will exceed gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 15 years.”
Honda
“Since our founding, Honda has focused on creating technologies that help people,” said Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, President and CEO of Honda R&D Co., Ltd., at opening of the Show. “Our goal is to showcase a future technology path that results in a redefined mobility experience.”
Honda unveiled its Cooperative Mobility Ecosystem concept connecting the power of artificial intelligence, robotics and big data to transform the mobility experience of the future and improve customers’ quality of life. Featuring a number of prototype and concept technology demonstrations, the Honda concept envisions a future where vehicles will communicate with each other and infrastructure to mitigate traffic congestion and eliminate traffic fatalities, while increasing the productivity of road users and delivering new types of in-vehicle entertainment experiences. Vehicles will create new value by providing services autonomously when not in use by their owners.
“The autonomous age has dawned, and Honda, like all automakers, is working to refine and advance this technology to achieve our goal for a collision-free society in the 2040 timeframe,” said Frank Paluch, President, Honda R&D Americas. “Using vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications and drawing upon big data and artificial intelligence, Honda will work with others to create an environment in which road conditions are predicted and managed, and collisions are avoided.”
Continuing its pursuit of open innovation and collaboration, Honda also announced initiatives with entrepreneurs, start-ups and global tech brands via the Honda Silicon Valley Lab, teaming up with Visa and DreamWorks Animation, for example.
Hyundai
IONIQ – Hyundai’s next generation Electrified platform sees the creation of the IONIQ Scooter as displayed at CES. The Korean (ideal for last mile delivery if traffic congestion inhibits progress) brand aspires to become a life partner for its customers with significant R&D investment in what it calls “Human Care”. Under two themes – free from anxiety and free to connect there are seven main parameters – autonomous driving, health and mobility.
Clean mobility, connected car, mobility vision, wearable robots and micro mobility all centred towards designing and providing safety conscious, health-aware and environmentally friendly solutions. Following the successful inaugural autonomous vehicle tests in Nevada with the Tucson Fuel Cell in 2015, the IONIQ Electric and Hybrid car launched here recently has received similar authorisation.
Driver welfare is coming to the fore with automakers, with Hyundai Motor joining the fray with Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Through various sensors around the driver, data is gathered and once choreographed, multi-sensory experiences that energise, relax or focus the driver based on scent, sound, air, temperature, light and posture.
Tae Won Lim, Head of Hyundai Motor Central Advanced Research and Engineering Institute said: “Hyundai Motor takes pride in finding innovative solutions to make the lives of our customers as easy as possible, so developing concepts like the IONIQ Scooter is at the core of our forward-looking R&D programme, Project IONIQ. As we look ahead, our vision is to be a world leader in hyper-connected living and to offer our customers seamless, end-to-end transport solutions.”
Mercedes-Benz
Electric concept cars and vans along with bettering the health and wellbeing of its drivers, Mercedes-Benz attracted significant attention. Concept EQ, provides a tangible preview of a completely new high-performing vehicle generation with battery-electric drive system. In future, every all-electric vehicle will belong to the new brand for electric mobility and called “EQ”.
The Concept EQ close-to-production show car presented heralds this new e-mobility brand and the market launch of the first model, based on an SUV, is planned within the next three years.
Renowned for comfort and safety, Mercedes-Benz is dedicated to enhancing passengers’ wellbeing. “The Mercedes-Benz car of the future is supporting an active and healthy lifestyle with intelligent solutions. The Mercedes-Benz of tomorrow will offer worlds of experience for all the senses. Depending on the situation, adaptive comfort and infotainment systems will be used, for example, to reduce tiredness or stress. A later stage of development may also include the intervention of safety and assistance systems,” explained Arwed Niestroj, CEO Mercedes-Benz Research & Development, North America.
In connection with Mercedes me, Mercedes-Benz is also working on a broad system to assist the user with an active and healthy lifestyle also when away from the vehicle. “To do this, Mercedes me will in the near future merge all the information that has been collected on the user both inside and outside the vehicle and will give round-the-clock tips for greater well-being and fitness.”
Nissan
As the keynote speaker at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Nissan Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn announced details of the next generation LEAF electric car along with several technologies and partnerships, all part of the Nissan Intelligent Mobility blueprint for transforming how cars are driven, powered, and integrated into wider society. These technologies will advance mobility toward a zero-emission, zero-fatality future on the roads.
“At Nissan, from the beginning, we work to bring the right technologies for the full spectrum of our vehicles. This takes more than innovation. It takes ingenuity. And it’s exactly what we deliver through Nissan Intelligent Mobility.”
Five key statements were made, which were further demonstrated on stage: To accelerate the time it will take for autonomous vehicles to get on the road safely, Mr. Ghosn announced a breakthrough technology called “Seamless Autonomous Mobility,” or SAM. Developed from NASA technology, SAM partners in-vehicle Artificial Intelligence (AI) with human support to help autonomous vehicles make decisions in unpredictable situations and build the knowledge of in-vehicle AI. This technology could potentially enable millions of driverless cars to co-exist with human drivers in an accelerated timeline.
In addition to advancements in Nissan’s autonomous driving strategy, Carlos also announced plans to launch a new Nissan LEAF, with ProPILOT technology, enabling autonomous drive functionality for single-lane highway driving. This new LEAF is coming in the near future and represents the next chapter of Nissan Intelligent Power.
“We invite others to join us, as well, from tech partners to e-commerce companies, ride-hailing and car-sharing platforms, and social entrepreneurs who can help us to test and develop new vehicles and services, and make sure everyone has access to the latest technologies and services that bring value to their lives,” he concluded.
Toyota
Connected, intelligent technologies are radically re-shaping the way we interact with our cars, and Toyota’s brought them to the floor of the CES.
A cloud-connected telematics system that brings the internet into your car, similar to what we see in commercial vehicles today. Smartphone integration that makes it easy for developers to create apps for your vehicle. And an artificial intelligence-powered concept vehicle that grows with you to build an interactive, friendly relationship.
“At Toyota, we’re pushing the future of technology innovation for the same reason we make cars – we want to help improve people’s lives,” said Bob Carter, Toyota’s Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations for Toyota. “Cars have always done more than just get us from point A to point B. We connect with them in ways that go well beyond just a tool for moving around. Now, thanks to Entune 3.0 and a host of new technology innovations, Toyota vehicles are going to be connected in ways we have never seen before.”
Designed from the inside-out, the artificial intelligence-enhanced Concept-i follows from Toyota’s belief that the vehicle of the future shouldn’t start with technology – it should start with the experience of the people who use it. Every element of the vehicle is designed to strengthen the user experience, from the advanced AI agent, nicknamed “Yui,” to the interior lines that allow Yui to travel throughout the car to communicate critical information using light, sound and even touch.
Volkswagen
The visionary I.D. concept car promises a totally new driving experience. It is the first Volkswagen to be based on the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB), offering an estimated maximum driving range of up to 600 kilometres, therefore enabling a “zero emissions” a more viable way of driving. But the I.D. is not only a game changer in long-distance electric mobility, according to Christian Senger, Product Line Leader for the I.D., “At the same time, it sets standards for connectivity and user operation concepts. Many of the innovations which we are showing at this year’s CES can be found in the I.D.,” he said. “The production version will launch in 2020. The show car we are showing already forges links to the year 2025 – as the first Volkswagen concept car to offer the fully autonomous “I.D. Pilot” driving mode.”
True to its slogan “We are always on” Volkswagen focused on connected individual users and their personal digital preferences. On a digital platform – the Volkswagen Ecosystem – visitors had an opportunity to configure personal settings and services conveniently with their own Volkswagen User-ID and take them along wherever they wish, independent of a specific vehicle. Show visitors can fully experience the innovative functions of the Volkswagen Ecosystem live.
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