Sony and Honda's EV Company Is Called Afeela
Honda has two alliances to build electric cars. The first, with GM, will see the American automaker's Ultium platform underpin an SUV from Honda dubbed Prologue, and for Acura, a reincarnation of the ZDX. The second alliance, though, is the more interesting one.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in 2020, Sony–the Japanese company known for TVs and video gaming–showed off a prototype of an electric sedan. In 2022, it showed an EV sedan and crossover. In March, the company entered a partnership with Honda named Sony Honda Mobility to produce electric cars. Wednesday night, the company showed off what it's been working on.
The handsome sedan will be the first product from the joint venture, which is now called Afeela, likely because Sony Honda Mobility doesn't really roll off the tongue. The new car is sleek, a minimalist, fastback design with wraparound light bars front and rear. It uses technology from Qualcomm for cockpit controls and assisted driving, and has an array of more than 40 sensors. It'll also emphasize entertainment, with seatback screens and high-end graphics processing.
It's unclear what the final form of this model will take. Sony and Honda say that the car will be available for order in 2025, with deliveries to America by 2026. Will this still be branded as an Afeela when it goes on sale? Or, since it's expected to have a premium price, could this be a new Acura Legend? That'd be a welcome outcome.
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