Afeela 1, the future benchmark for electric cars?

Yet another new brand. For once, it doesn't come from China but from the United States, and it's already shaping up to be a scarecrow. Sony, the inventor of the Walkman and the PlayStation, and Honda have teamed up to create a new automotive label: Afeela. It comes from the English word "feel." Presented at the Las Vegas Technology Show in January 2023, their project has entered a more active phase. The first pre-production models are already leaving the factory in the state of Ohio. The silhouette is faithful to the concept unveiled in 2023. Around a roof drawn in a single arc, the shapes are refined and highlight great aerodynamic finesse rewarded by a very low drag coefficient. The door handles are retractable; the wheel covers are particularly neat; the stern features a movable spoiler.

At 4.91 m long, 1.98 m wide and 1.46 m high, the Afeela 1 is already shaping up to be a benchmark, featuring the best of Sony and Honda. Based on a platform from the equipment manufacturer Qualcomm, this new sedan features high-quality running gear: double wishbone air suspension at the front and a multi-link rear axle.

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Four-wheel drive is provided by two 180 kW motors, producing a combined 480 horsepower. These machines are powered by a 91 kWh battery. This would allow a range of around 480 km. The manufacturer has already announced that the charging power will not exceed 150 kW. The competition does better, but charging too quickly causes the batteries to age prematurely.

The Afeela 1 aims to stand out above all through the quality of its onboard technologies. It will be at the highest level in the field of autonomous driving with the presence of 40 sensors, 18 cameras, a Lidar and 12 ultrasonic sensors. The interior presentation is largely inspired by the Honda e city car with a panoramic screen covering the entire width of the car and housing the rearview mirror cameras at each end. The quality of the screen is worthy of a high-end television and the multimedia system will immerse passengers in the Sony universe. The steering wheel, distinguished by the absence of a rim on the upper part, attests to the truly innovative nature of this new car.

The manufacturer has already announced that production of the Afeela 1 sedan, which is positioned in the premium market, will begin in 2026. The Silhouette version will cost $102,900. The entry-level model, scheduled for 2027, will cost $89,900.