The best motoring reveals from CES 2022 | FOS Future Lab

Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX

Starting with what is probably our favourite, the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX. You look and think it’s a concept car that doesn’t move… but no. It’s a fully engineered road-legal car that’s not going into production, because it’s a research prototype looking into the future of electric cars. With a swooping teardrop active aero body, it’s all about lightweighting, streamlining, improving battery and electric motor tech. With F1 knowhow in on the development of the powertrain, they managed to squeeze 620 miles of range out of it. On the inside, it’s got a 47-inch dash-spanning LED screen, too. Have that, Elon.

Sony Vision S 02 

Sony returned to CES with its second car the Vision S 02, an SUV follow-up to the Vision S saloon we saw in 2020. Yes it’s still a prototype but whereas Sony claimed following the last one that it was simply using the Vision S as a research vessel for its sensor and 5G tech, it’s following this one by incorporating a full-on car company, Sony Mobility, in the Spring. We could actually get these things… and you know what? Even the SUV one actually looks quite nice. Magna-engineered, packing 540PS (397kW) and all-wheel-drive, sounds like the right car at the right time. We’re poised to see what they do next…

BMW iX Flow

From Sony “exploring entry into the EV market”, to BMW turning its latest electric SUV into a giant Kindle. No really, the BMW iX Flow with E Ink uses a high tech version of what puts words on the screen on an eReader. A wrap contains millions of tiny pods that contain charged white and black pigments that can be controlled electrically. It means this iX can swap between black and white, with near-infinite customisability along the way. As long as you don’t want other colours…

Autonomous John Deere tractor

Far away from the realms of the metropolitan electric crossover, Clarkson’s struggles with managing tramlines on his farm could soon be over. John Deere has unveiled its fully autonomous tractor. It’s been in development for a couple of years but CES 2022 was the chosen venue for the finished article, which uses two boxes containing 12 stereo cameras and an Nvidia GPU that can be retrofitted to existing machines and is all controllable through a smartphone. The future is now.

Cadillac Innerspace

Cadillac, that most traditional of American luxury automotive brands, has been bucking the geriatrics for two decades now, trying to shed the retiree image with edgy designs. Now, at CES, it looks deep into the future, with the Innerspace Concept, a prototype that adds to a growing roster of ‘Halo Concepts’ that it’s been putting out. It joins the PersonalSpace, a single-seat VTOL concept and SocialSpace, a roomy autonomous six-seater. It won’t be the last ‘Space’ Concept, either, with the OpenSpace joining later. For now, the InnerSpace reimagines how two passengers might be transported in a fully autonomous vehicle in ultimate luxury. There’s an enormous panoramic SMD LED display and Augmented Reality. The exterior is as sci-fi as the interior, with the swooping silhouette of a leggy GT from the 2050s.

Chrysler Airflow

Those who remember the PT Cruiser will get the heeby jeebies at the prospect of another Chrysler that pays homage to the 1930s Airflow. Happily, Chrysler’s Airflow Concept at CES 2022 will, if there is a production version, make for quite the attractive Mustang Mach-E alternative. For now it “represents the future direction of the Chrysler brand”, packing incredible new levels of connectivity that can bring elements of every passenger’s digital presence into the car on highly customisable screens. With a pair of 150kW motors front and back and an aero profile befitting the Airflow name, it’s supposedly good for between 350 and 400 miles. One they should definitely make, though Chrysler’s first dedicated EV isn’t due until 2025.

Hyundai Plug & Drive

Hyundai went full sci-fi at CES 2022, bringing the Plug & Drive and Plug & Lift modular mobility concepts to show in amongst its wider robotics and future tech demonstration. The overall theme is ‘expanding human reach’ using these modular systems that scale from something as small as a mobility scooter, to something as large as a hospital on wheels, deployable to emergencies and expandable once set up. IT all revolves around one-wheel modules with 360 steering, integrated brakes and motors, that combine and work together depending on the application. Yes, included in relevant applications is a mobility pod that could be carting us around in the cities of the future.

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