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  • Honda and Sony just teased a second SUV at CES 2026, but their Ch

    From TechnologyDaily@1337:1/100 to All on Thu Jan 8 17:45:08 2026
    Honda and Sony just teased a second SUV at CES 2026, but their Chinese rivals are already racing ahead

    Date:
    Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:30:46 +0000

    Description:
    Sony Honda Mobility takes the wraps off its SUV prototype, despite not yet delivering its debut electric sedan.

    FULL STORY ======================================================================Afeela
    1 deliveries will finally begin later this year A new all-electric SUV is planned for 2028 Sony and Honda say it will be aimed at a broader range of users

    Sony Honda Mobility likes to use CES as a platform to showcase its hotly-anticipated Afeela 1 electric vehicle , to the point where wheeling it out on stage has become an annual tradition.

    This year, the pair revealed what they described as a pre-production model that is essentially the very same as those $102,900 vehicles that are due to be delivered in the coming months.

    But despite not yet handing keys over to customers, Sony Honda Mobility is already teasing an SUV variant that it claims will offer greater spatial flexibility and accessibility as well as appealing to a broader range of users.

    It builds on the same fundamentals as the Afeela 1, which is to say it will feature the same Personal Agent that leverages Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service for natural dialogue between human and machine.

    Theres also a Snapdragon Digital Chassis that the company says helps it deliver "AI-centered next-generation mobility experiences", while the ability to play PlayStation 5 directly on the vehicles infotainment system will
    remain as a key draw for potential punters. Image 1 of 6 (Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility) Image 2 of 6 (Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility) Image 3 of 6 (Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility) Image 4 of 6 (Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility) Image 5 of 6 (Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility) Image 6 of 6
    (Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility)

    Sony Honda Mobility is otherwise remaining tight-lipped on specifics for the larger SUV, which is planned for launch in the US as early as 2028.

    We only know that it looks strikingly similar to the sedan, albeit with a raised ride height, and that it is highly likely to feature the same sensor suite that allows Afeela 1 to offer advanced levels of autonomous driving.

    The company says that it aims to achieve Level 4equivalent autonomous driving capabilities in the future, transforming the in-vehicle space into a drive-less environment whereoccupants can enjoy entertainment, apparently. A bumpy road ahead (Image credit: Sony Honda Mobility)

    It feels like the Afeela 1 has been a very long time in the making, with Chinese technology brands like Xiaomi and Huawei launching and selling a number of very advanced EVs in their domestic market in the time it has taken Sony Honda Mobility to get to a pre-production stage.

    Whats more, the Signature version that will be delivered first starts at $102,900 (around 77,000 / AU$155,000), with the 'cheaper' $89,900 Origin (about 67,000 / AU$135,000) not arriving until 2027. Thats a lot of money for an EV that can only deliver up to 300 miles of range on a single charge.

    Just across the Las Vegas Convention Center, BMW was busy showcasing its upcoming iX3 model, which is expected to start at around $60,000 (about
    45,000 / AU$90,000) and is touted to deliver up to 400 miles on a full
    charge.

    While theres no word on price, the upcoming SUV will likely follow a similar pricing strategy and could potentially cost even more than the Afeela 1
    sedan.

    Sony Honda Mobility might need a bit more than a digital license plate and PlayStation in the car to convince customers to part with that much cash.

    TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES , and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home
    gadgets, and the latest in AI.

    And dont forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!



    ======================================================================
    Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/honda-and-sony -just-teased-a-second-suv-at-ces-2026-but-their-chinese-rivals-are-already-rac ing-ahead


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    * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)