Conceptualising Movement

By-line: By Pancham Bhardwaj

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One of the unspoken truths of life is change, constant and unrelenting change. Despite all the pinnacles we seem to achieve, there is always another peak to climb in the horizon. The same holds true for both technology and automobiles; segments that never fail to capture the imaginations of the masses, as we relish in the chase of the elusive next big thing. Manufacturers love to stoke these fires, through new and exciting concepts of computing and mechanical excellence, wrapped up in marvellous designs that might not be the most practical for daily use, but still are amazing to look at. It not only lets them showcase the best they have to offer, but also set the benchmark for creative expression. While these showcases of new technologies and automobiles are generally kept separate, with each category getting multiple yearly exhibitions across different parts of the globe, CES is one such rare event, which easily blends the boundaries and pushes the envelope of what these industries can accomplish when pitted together.

CES 2020 was no different, with lots of new and some familiar concept cars that take the spirit of innovation to heart, and give us something to aspire to. Even though it is common knowledge that much of the flair will be diluted by the time most, if any of the concepts make it to production, we can still take time to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into creating such moving pieces of art. Since the rest of the world is buzzing with the possibilities of AI, automation, connected sensors and devices, it only seemed appropriate for this year’s offerings to follow the same theme. Which is why, in a rare showcase of foresight, most manufactures have decided to go with fully-automated self-driving vehicles that are more about chauffeuring you around, than anything else. So let us take a look at what might just be the future of private transport soon enough.

Audi AI: ME

This might not be the first car you imagine to be focused on autonomous driving, considering the small size. But that seems to be the way Audi is leaning, by simplifying the interiors and trimming down a lot of the plastic components, to give way to an airy looking cabin that comes with a sleek wooden dashboard and no steering wheel at all. This is because the car is claimed to feature Level-4 self-drive capabilities, as well as a complete hands-free travel experience thanks to a unique eye-tracking entertainment system. The car is even said to feature separate profiles for different members of your family, which include their seating position, air conditioner settings, volume levels and various other factors of personal preferences. The goal is to be able to get you around in cramped city roads, without sacrificing the promise of comfort and space.

Sony Vision S

This is perhaps the only car on the list that even allows traditional driving, but it still deserves to have a place on the list owing to its unique origins. The concept was created by none other than Sony Electronics, to showcase their wide array of sensors, imaging and display hardware that can enable complete self-drive in any electric vehicle they are fit inside. This doesn’t mean that that they have skimped on the rest of the vehicle, as the car features a striking design, sleek presence, as well as a decent 268BHP motor that can theoretically push this car from 0-100 in 4.8 seconds. While this may just be a concept, it still is an amazing feat of engineering that was made possible by the collaboration of dozens of technology and hardware companies, such as Nvidia, Continental Tyres, Bosch, ZF, Qualcomm, and most importantly Magna Steyr, who lent their automobile manufacturing expertise to bring the project together.

Mercedes Benz Vision AVTR

This car easily features one of the most outrageous and captivating design in the history of automobiles. Even going by concept standards, it is an exception piece of art, created with the help of none other than Avatar director James Cameron, whose film inspired the concept itself. One of the most noticeable and certainly the most talked about feature is the rear end, which is littered with 33 individual scales aka Bionic Flaps, which can actually be synced together to communicate with other people while driving. The actual driving is done by a weird knob-shaped controller that sits in the middle of the centre console, which accentuates the focus on a relaxed seating position, even while in manual mode. The whole interior is actually made from recycled plastic and vegan leather to match the nature-friendly theme of the concept. Even the batteries are graphene-based organic cells, to help reduce the dependence on rare earth minerals. If this is just the concept, we can’t wait to see what the reality could be.

LG ThinQ Connected Car

Just like Sony, another surprising electronics vendor showcased their own version of a connected car. Calling it a car is certainly stretching the definition, as the whole thing looks like a stylish box on wheels, with no discernable front or back. Yet when you step inside, you are welcomed by four comfortable and spacious chairs, each angled to give you the perfect view of the large OLED screens that wrap around the front and back windows. You even get your own control-pad, retractable display, and even an in-build mini-fridge to keep beverages cold. This is obviously more of a people mover than a private vehicle, but the concept is still fascinating enough to warrant a look. LG has partnered with Adient to bring the concept to reality, and are hoping to make it an actual production vehicle sometime around 2030. While that might seem too far away, it certainly isn’t that long considering what all they are promising and the flawless level of self-driving technologies that will be required to power it all.