Sony And Honda’s Electric SUV Emerges As Tesla Model X Threat

Timed to coincide with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) has premiered a new prototype vehicle under its Afeela brand. Unlike the Afeela 1 electric sedan that entered pre-production back in August, the new Afeela Prototype 2026 (as it’s called for now) takes the form of a coupe-style crossover. The resemblance between the new prototype and the Afeela 1 sedan is obvious, but the crossover’s larger, taller body is likely to appeal to more Americans than the sedan that arrives first.

Related: What is the Sony Honda Mobility Afeela 1?

Production Model Expected In 2028

View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article

SHM didn’t divulge much detail about the new crossover-type prototype, but the company did confirm that a production version of it is expected to launch in the United States as early as 2028. That’s roughly two years after the production Afeela 1 sedan, which begins deliveries this year.

The prototype shares the same clean face as the Afeela 1, with a full-width light bar and flush headlights sweeping across the front fascia. There are no garish fake grilles to be found here. The ground clearance is clearly superior to the sedan, and the crossover also gets a two-tone body with a black roof. 

The Afeela 1 is expected to be equipped with 40 sensors, including 1 LiDAR, 18 cameras, and nine radars. The crossover prototype has a prominent LiDAR sensor on its roof, so will likely be capable of the same level of self-driving capability. The company aims to achieve Level 4 self-driving capability in the future through its Afeela Intelligent Drive system.

Afeela claims “greater spatial flexibility and accessibility” for the new prototype, so expect more trunk space and more comfortable seating than in the sedan.

Performance, Range, And Price Expectations

View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article

The Afeela 1 is confirmed to have a starting price of $89,900, so it’s very much at the high end of the EV market. The crossover will likely be a bit pricier, so with a few options, this could easily be a six-figure vehicle. The Afeela 1 has dual electric motors producing 241 horsepower each, an air-spring suspension, an estimated 300-mile range, and all-wheel drive. Expect swift acceleration, although that’s no longer a selling point in the EV segment. The new prototype is expected to be at least as powerful as the sedan when it arrives.

Unsurprisingly for vehicles jointly developed with Sony, the Afeela 1 will become the first car to feature native integration of PS Remote Play, allowing PlayStation fans to easily enjoy their favorite games. This tech should make it into the SUV as well.

Related: Sony Honda’s New Electric Sedan Will Launch With Digital License Plates and Built-In Theft Alerts

Final Thoughts

Even though it has the benefit of being associated with two major brands (Honda and Sony), Afeela is still a new automaker, so will have to get off to a strong start with the Afeela 1 later this year. The new prototype may end up being an even more crucial product, though, given this market’s appetite for SUVs. 

Targeted at the Tesla Model S and Model X, the Afeela twins have the potential to expose the age of Tesla’s flagship models. Advanced self-driving and in-car technologies are other strong attributes, but they’ll have to be fundamentally good EVs, too.