THE biggest electronics convention in the world has traditionally been confined to gadgets of the future but the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas featured exciting new cars – cars of the future. Here are our favorite cars from that show.
Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR
AVTR stands for Avatar – the movie – that merged the blue alien Na’vi with their horses and gigantic birds using their ponytails. I’m still smarting from that film’s loss for Oscar’s best picture. Anyway, Mercedes-Benz’s concept car called AVTR replicates this merger between man and machine. This concept car can read your pulse and sense your breathing. It features a huge display inside the cabin that shows visions of the world outside. Its four wheels light up. It can pivot sideways like a crab for easy parking. The back hatch is covered in 33’ bionic flaps which can move in different directions. It has no steering wheel. You connect by using a joystick in the center console. Cool thing.
Hyundai Mobis M-Vision
Hyundai Mobis is a real communicator. It can communicate with people inside the car and outside pedestrians too. The Mobis communicates back with sound and led lights, digital signboards, and headlamp projection. Blue colors indicate the car is autonomously driving itself, yellow if you are driving! Man, this robotic car doesn’t trust us human drivers. A big screen in front can send specific messages to other vehicles and pedestrians. Mobis performs a retina scan and facial recognition of each occupant, pairs with their mobile devices, and syncs their calendars to the big interior screen. It even adjusts lighting and music to your mood. Whew!
Audi AI:ME
Audit’s AI:ME emphasizes its occupants’ relaxation with surfaces that light up only when you need them. It sports VR goggles for entertainment, internet browsing, and more. It still has a steering wheel and pedals if you miss conventional driving.
Fiat Centoventi
Fiat’s Centoventi aims to be an affordable vehicle. Factory will paint your car with just one color. You can customize it with colored body panels. The modular battery pack is upgradeable. Its design is one of the coolest cars at the trade show.
Byton M-Byte
Byton’s M-Byte sports a huge 48-inch interior screen! It also has four touchscreens, super antennas, and cutting-edge cloud connectivity. It emphasizes connectivity and data over horsepower. Byton prefers entertainment over power and acceleration. It starts at $45,000, moves to $55,000 at mid-range, and tops at $70,000. It’s expected in showrooms in 2021.
Fisker Ocean
Fisker plans to mass produce its fully electric compact SUV. The Fisker Ocean will start under $40,000 and will go on sale in 2022. Henrik Fisker, a onetime BMW designer, designed the ocean to display a radar sensor prominently at the peak of its nose instead of hiding sensors and radar units used for adaptive cruise control, and forward collision-warning systems.
Honda Augmented Driving Concept
Honda’s concept car has no roof. The trade show display is not a convertible because it has no roof. It has no pedals to accelerate or brake either. Instead, you push the steering wheel forward to accelerate and pull back to brake. You can even swap drivers by passing the steering wheel from left to right.
Sony Vision-S
Yes, we were surprised to see Sony exhibit a car. No, Sony is not planning to build cars. It merely showcased what Sony can supply other automakers with technologies for their own electric vehicles. More than 30 sensors are embedded around the car to detect people and other vehicles. It has 360 reality audio that offers amazing sounds with speakers built into the seats.
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Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV – Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California.
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He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise – “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at [email protected].