Sony’s Vision-S prototype sedan, which initially captured significant attention at CES last year, has remained a focus for the company following the conclusion of the technology trade show.

The Vision-S has reappeared in a series of new videos released by Sony during the 2021 CES event, which began on Monday. These videos showcase the Vision-S prototype being driven on both a private test track and public roads within Austria. However, a more extensive video (provided below) offers deeper insights into the design and development process of the prototype, the collaborating companies involved, and the underlying technology.

Notably, the Vision-S prototype may represent only the initial phase of Sony’s ambitions, as indicated by Frank Klein, president of automotive contract manufacturer Magna Steyr, a key partner in the project. Mr. Klein, featured in the nearly nine-minute video, implies a continued collaboration between Sony and Magna, potentially addressing speculation that the prototype was simply an exploratory endeavor.

The video, alongside additional details available on their website, indicates that Sony and its partners have continued to refine the vehicle throughout the past year.

To achieve comprehensive 360-degree awareness, Sony increased the number of sensors integrated into the vehicle to 40 and explored methods to enhance their functionality, according to Izumi Kawanishi, a senior vice president at the company who appears in the video. Sony also developed a system to ensure the safety and security of its connected vehicle technology, he explained.

The vehicle features a display screen spanning the dashboard, presenting five distinct tiles in the central area, each dedicated to camera functions, settings adjustments, navigation, music playback, and video entertainment.

Video evidence suggests the addition or ongoing development of several features, including a voice-activated assistant, gesture-based controls, in-car entertainment options like video games, over-the-air software updates, 5G connectivity, and a driver-monitoring system utilizing an interior camera. This camera, described in greater detail on Sony’s website, is of particular interest.

The camera is employed to identify and assess the state of the vehicle’s occupants. For example, if a passenger in the rear seat is detected as being asleep, the car will automatically adjust the climate control in that area to a comfortable temperature, as stated by Sony. The system is designed to learn and adapt through regular use, recognizing the driver’s preferred temperature settings, music choices, and frequently traveled routes. Real-world driving data is utilized to further personalize the in-cabin experience, according to the company.

The video highlights a diverse range of partners contributing to the Vision-S project, including Bosch and Continental, the Hungarian automated driving startup AIMotive, software firm Elektrobit Automotive, French automotive supplier Valeo, telecommunications leader Vodafone, and German automotive component manufacturer ZF Group. This extensive network of collaborators, which also encompasses mapping company HERE, Nvidia, Blackberry/QNX, and Qualcomm, strongly suggests the eventual availability of a commercially produced Sony vehicle.

“Our corporate goal is to establish a closer connection with people,” Kawanishi stated in the video. “I believe that mobility can serve as a means to accomplish this.”