Afeela EV Unveiled with a Gaming Twist
At the CES 2024 event, Izumi Kawanishi, President of Sony Honda Mobility, amazed the audience by showcasing the Afeela electric car. The highlight? Controlling the concept car using a PS5 DualSense controller, an unconventional and attention-grabbing move.
Closer to Reality with Impressive Specs
Despite being a concept car, the Afeela boasts remarkable specifications. Jointly developed by Sony and Honda, the electric vehicle features a 400kW (536hp) dual-motor all-wheel-drive, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 240 km/h. These specifications remain the ambitious goals Sony aims to achieve.
Afeela’s Tech Demo: A PlayStation Controller Stunt
However, it’s crucial to note that the Afeela’s summoning with a PlayStation controller is merely a tech demo. President Kawanishi clarified that this attention-grabbing stunt is not a real feature but serves to showcase the technological capabilities of the electric car.
Unreal Engine 5.3 Powers Afeela’s Visual Experience
Beyond the gaming theatrics, the Afeela incorporates Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5.3 to deliver a captivating visual experience. The car’s massive ultrawide dashboard display features 3D graphics and visuals, powered by UE5.3. This enables drivers and passengers to enjoy detailed 3D maps, virtual spaces, and augmented reality views, enriched with internet-sourced metadata.
Gaming Influence on EV Development
The influence of gaming extends beyond the tech demo, as the Afeela utilizes Unreal Engine 5.3 to render simulated environments for training its multi-camera driver assistance systems. The highly realistic graphics provided by the game engine contribute to enhanced accuracy in training visual models and neural network processing, empowering the EV’s driver-aid functions.
