Page 16 - Motor Trend (April 2020)

NEWS I OPINION I GOSSIP I STUFF
Trend 4.20
The Best Cars of CES
ith the Detroit auto show bumped to June, WORDS MOTORTREND STAFF
CES 2020 might have been the most auto-
heavy iteration of the consumer electronics–
Wfocused show in its history. We saw not
only tons of automotive gadgets, innovations, and
technologies—you can check out our coverage of those
online—but also actual cars, and perhaps more of
them than you might expect. Heavy hitters like Audi,
Mercedes-Benz, and Honda showed off fancy wheels,
but the vehicles most grounded in reality came from
lesser known names like Fisker, Byton, and Sony (yes,
that Sony). For all the details, check out our rundown
of the visionary CES cars you need to know about.
Byton M-Byte
Byton wants you to think of its new M-Byte electric crossover
as “the world’s first smart device on wheels.” It’s a corny tagline
inspired by tons of research indicating that customers are starting
to value connectivity over traditional automotive characteristics,
and it’s a main reason this thing has a 48-inch(!) interior screen.
Multiple modems and antennas allow for serious bandwidth when
exploiting Byton’s shopping and entertainment partnerships.
When you’re not playing (but also not driving), the screen allows for
video conferencing with screen sharing. It’ll be controlled by hard
buttons, gestures, voice control, and touchscreens on the center
console and steering wheel—the latter of which remains upright
while the wheel rotates around it. Although the M-Byte isn’t self-
driving yet, it’s loaded with a full suite of Level 2 advanced driving
aids and the ability to be upgraded
to Levels 3 and 4 in the future. (Level
5 is full self-driving with no steering
wheel at all.) However it’s driven,
it’ll go 250 to 325 miles on a charge,
depending on battery size, and cost
between $45,000 and $70,000 when
it goes on sale next year.
16 MOTORTREND.COM APRIL 2020
Audi AI:ME
First shown at the 2019 Shanghai auto show, the AI:ME made an
appearance at CES 2020. It’s an autonomous car that places the
focus on its occupants’ relaxation. Without being distracted by
driving, occupants can enjoy VR goggles and plants growing on
the headliner. A Level 4 self-driving car, it still packs a steering
wheel and pedals, so you’re welcome to fill your spiritual bucket
with good ol’ driving, too. Really, it’s designed for commutes and
running errands where you’ll never break 45 mph and not travel
long distances, so Audi saved weight by limiting the battery to 65
kW-hr and the motor to just 167 hp. LED light matrices around the
exterior can provide illumination or act as projectors, shooting
symbols and words onto the road to inform pedestrians of the
car’s intentions. Inside, surfaces light up only when you need them,
and the seating will be reconfigurable to allow you to create more
room for cargo, relaxation, or productivity as needed.
Fiat Centoventi
The Centoventi first appeared last March to celebrate Fiat’s
120th birthday (centoventi means 120), and it’s one of the coolest
concepts we’ve seen in years. A production version would be
painted just one color from the factory, the modular battery pack
is upgradeable after purchase, and owners can customize their
cars with tons of accessories or colored body panels. A standard
60-mile battery can be augmented by renting or buying up to four
additional pop-in battery packs (three under the car, one under
the driver’s seat) for up to 300 miles of range. The extra packs
could be rented for trips, and the driver’s seat one can be popped
out at your destination and charged indoors. Also swappable: the
bumpers, wheel covers, and roof, comple-
mented by body wraps for other panels.
Inside, a mesh panel on the dash lets you
plug in any number of accessories. The
front passenger seat—made from anti-
microbial recycled yarn—is designed to
be removed and replaced with a child
seat, pet carrier, or storage compartment.