With the dust settling on CES 2020 and the jet lag a happy memory it’s worth reflecting on the big ticket reveals and announcements. This was my fourth outing at the Vegas extravaganza, and whereas the first visit had been an assault on the senses (and feet) visiting now is more an exercise in looking for step increments in innovation, as well as the odd diamond in amongst all the rough.
CES wouldn’t be complete without a slew of concept cars vying for eyeballs and this year was no exception. Mercedes moved to steal the show with their nattily titled Vision AVTR concept car; a cross between a Gungan submersible and the bike from Tron. It was certainly eye catching, but the tie in with the upcoming AVATAR film (hung on the promise of sustainability) felt a tad strained. It’s not a car we’re going to see anytime soon.
The same can’t be said of Nissan's offering, the Ariya Concept. Styling wise It managed to thread the needle between feeling real and yet futuristic simultaneously. Put simply it was gorgeous. Innovation internally is led by a two third span HMI which acts as a centerpiece without being overwhelming, and the UI felt both familiar but distinctly Nissan. It also appears to be, well real. With Nissan releasing a swath of vehicle details analysts expect the car to be on sale as early as 2021.
Byton were there in force, and they describe their HMI system as Five Dimensional (Hand, Voice, Touch, Button and Face for the uninitiated). While Tesla are pulling away from larger/multiple in vehicle screens Byton are doubling down on their full span HMI and it didn’t fail to impress. The on steering wheel control screen was surprisingly intuitive, and the full width screen sits low enough from the driver viewing zone as to not pose an obvious distraction. Production is set to begin imminently in China, with a UK right hand drive model coming to our shores at the end of 2021.
Lamborghini’s stand was a small affair, with the Italian marque showcasing Alexa integration in their Huracan. Integration covered the basics of HVAC, lighting and media settings, but bigger brands have had these bases covered for a while now. Still, for a smaller OEM it’s great to see Lamborghini making strides in connectivity and I’m looking forward to seeing how they build on voice control going forward.
Finally, a special mention needs to go to both Visteon and Bosch who both showcased glasses-free 3D driver displays. Visteon made waves with their projected 3D cluster for Peugeot back in 2019, though this time they have gone a step further and created an interface using head tracking and lenticular screens that literally throws data and warnings into the space between you and the cluster. The effect can’t be replicated on video, so you really have to see it in the flesh, but suffice to say it’s pretty trippy. Technology like this naturally opens up a string of questions as to whether it will aid or impede driver safety, but in terms of rough diamonds this was five carat material. Congrats to both businesses for pushing the boundaries of next generation interfaces.
If you’d like further information regarding HMI and next gen vehicle connectivity don’t hesitate to get to touch.
