Japanese electronics giant Sony has moved a step closer to launching its first electric car by unveiling a second-generation prototype and setting up a new company - Sony Mobility Inc. The announcements came at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, USA. 

Although this isn’t the first time Sony has announced plans to become involved in the automotive insdustry, the formation of a new company suggests that Sony’s initial plan to solely develop in-car technology has expanded to include car production as well. The new  Vision-S 02 is based on the Vision-S 01 which was revealed for the first time in 2020. Back then, Sony bosses suggested that the vehicle was a test-bed for driving tech and entertainment systems. The first prototype has been testing on public roads since December 2020 and has racked up thousands of development miles. 

The Vision-S 02 reveal at the CES is the biggest indication yet that Sony is serious about developing and building its own electric car. Images released by Sony show a car that appears largely production ready with a complete seven-seater interior. Minor details such as number plate mounts and mirrors all suggest that this is a car set to enter production in the near future. 

In terms of size, the 02 is 4,895mm long, 1,930mm wide and 1,650mm high. That makes it around 10cm longer than the Tesla Model Y and a similar height and width. Sony has yet to confirm any details on battery capacity or predicted range, but claims that the 02 has a kerbweight of 2,480kg. The prototype is fitted with dual motors, both with an output of 268bhp. Given its dimensions, a battery pack in the region of 70-90kWh is most likely to be offered. If this proves to be the case, drivers could expect a potential driving range of between 250-350 miles from a charge. 

Vision-S 02 is fractionally longer than a Tesla Model Y and comes with seven seats

Although Sony has never developed an electric car before, it has extensive knowledge of battery technology. The Japanese brand was the first company to fully exploit the lithium ion battery, which was created at the University of Oxford in the 1970s. The technology allowed Sony to establish itself as a leader in portable electronics in the early 1990s. 

Unsurprisingly, the 02 is packed with technology. Thanks to the expansion of the 5G network, Sony hopes that production versions will have the most advanced self-driving systems in the business and is likely to have Tesla firmly in its sights. Naturally, given Sony’s expertise in the gaming world, the 02 features an in-built PlayStation system that can remotely connect to a console at home. This would allow owners to stream games through the cloud when taking a charging break. 

Sony’s electric car ambitions mark the start of a new era for automotive design and production. Apple’s much-rumoured electric car project is also understood to be running at full speed, with many new systems already being tested in public. The American giant has also filed for a number of US patents for components such as door handles and seat mechanisms, which would suggest that production design is at an advanced stage. 

Cabin features a host of clever tech, including (of course) a PlayStation console