THE Sony Vision-S Concept was, without a doubt, the biggest surprise at CES earlier this year. It was the first time we saw the giant Sony present a car.
Vision-S is, essentially, a rolling laboratory, which serves as a demonstrator of the technologies developed by Sony in the area of mobility.
Not many details have been revealed about the Japanese 100% electric saloon, but its dimensions are close to those of a Tesla Model S, and the two electric motors that equip it each deliver 272 hp. It doesn't guarantee ballistic performance like a Model S, but the 4.8s announced at 0-100 km/h don't embarrass anyone.
In total the Sony prototype has 12 cameras.
The name Vision-S Concept tells us it's just a prototype, but given its state of maturity many wondered if the Vision-S was anticipating a future production vehicle. The development was carried out by the very competent Magna Steyr, in Graz, Austria, which gave strength to this possibility.
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Izumi Kawanishi, the head of development for the project, was quick to declare that Sony didn't intend to become an automobile manufacturer and that's where this episode stayed, or so we thought.
Now, more than half a year later, Sony releases a new video (featured) where we see the return of the Vision-S Concept to Japan. According to the Japanese brand, the objective of the return is to continue to develop “the technology sensors and audio”.
It doesn't stop there. The most interesting part that accompanies this little video is, however, this:
“The prototype is also in development to be tested on public roads during this fiscal year.”
Possibilities, possibilities, possibilities...
For a prototype technology demonstrator, no doubt Sony doesn't seem to be concerned about taking that extra step to validate them.
Wouldn't it be enough to test the Vision-S sensor armada for autonomous driving (33 in total) at test sites already prepared for this purpose? Is it really necessary to take it to the public road?
Testing the prototype on the road can be just that: testing all the technologies incorporated in real conditions. But just as happened during the CES, when a 100% functional vehicle was unveiled, this announcement makes us ask again: is Sony preparing to enter the automotive world, with a vehicle of its own brand?