Sony’s First EV is Expensive And A While Away Yet

Two years ago we first mentioned that Sony and Honda were teaming up to produce an EV, the Afeela 1. Deliveries were meant to begin this year.

In an update at the CES launch, orders are now being taken for the Afeela 1. However, customers won’t get their cars until next year or the year after. And the ask for Americans is $US90k. 

Bookings have just kicked off for the Sony EV in California, with the Origin trim starting at US$89,900, and the Signature trim at US$102,900. The company made the announcement at CES where a near-production-ready vehicle was on show. Sony and Honda have been working on the vehicle for five years.

The pricing puts the Afeela 1 above Hyundai and Polestar offerings. It therefore goes up against luxury options like the $80,000 Lucid Air, and Tesla’s high-performance 760kW Model S Plaid. It wouldn’t be the first time Sony charges above the odds for its products, however.  

The Afeela 1 comes with a dual motor all-wheel-drive powertrain and system power is 359kW. The motor draws from a 91kWh battery and has an EPA-estimated range of 483 km. The Afeela 1 can hook up to Tesla’s Supercharger network, and is capable of fast charging at 150kW DC.

You can bank on the new model not being as quick as some of the like-priced competition. However, Sony is confident its assisted driving experience and in-car tech will wow customers. There are 40 sensors and cameras for LIDAR-assisted Level 2+ ADAS features. It canb identify empty spots in parking lots and streets, and park all by itself.

An AI-powered personal assistant will help avoid screen distractions. The car will be able to stream entertainment channels on across-the-dash screen while the cabin benefits from active noise cancellation.

With plenty of computing power, the Afeela 1 will eventually be capable of level 3 ADAS functionality. So it will be able to handle all aspects of driving, including safe passing, in certain conditions.

Want to up the Sony EV ante?

There’s also a Signature variant that comes with two screens in the back for rear seat passengers’ viewing pleasure. The audio by Sony, naturally, a surround sound system with “360 Reality Audio” and Dolby Atmos.

The catch is that the Intelligent Drive ADAS system, the Personal Agent, various entertainment options, interior themes and 5G connectivity will be paywalled behind a subscription package. This comes free for original buyers in the first three years of ownership. 

The Origin model comes only in black, inside and out, while Signature gets three exterior paint options, and two interior hues.

A US$200 reservation fee online is available for California residents only at present. It is not yet clear when it goes on sale for the rest of America or indeed the world.