What seems like a decade ago, in January 2020, Sony unveiled the Vision-S 01 concept car at CES. Since then, its electric vehicle plans remained unknown, even to itself. Today, Sony came to CES 2022 with the big announcement that it will establish Sony Mobility Inc in Spring 2022. Additionally, Sony revealed the next concept vehicle, the Vision-S 02 electric SUV.

Sony electric vehicle division revealed, Sony Mobility Inc

In the Spring of 2022, Sony Mobility Inc operations will begin. According to CarScoops, “it will serve as the vessel for Sony to “explore entry into the EV market.” Its first steps could be to release production versions of a sedan and SUV model. Of course, this will start with the two concept vehicles that it already unveiled. Sony’s entry into the EV market is it’s first as an automaker, so it’ll rival companies like Tesla, Fisker, and Rivian.

The first two Sony concept vehicles are the Vision-S 01 and Vision-S 02, which rival the Tesla Model S and Model X.

Sony electric vehicle concept unveiled, Vision-S 02

When the Vision-S 01 concept was announced, it was a clear competitor for the Tesla Model S. The same thought crosses your mind when you see the latest concept, but for a different Tesla model. Consequently, the Vision-S 02 is an electric SUV measuring 192.7 inches long with a wheelbase of 119.3 inches. Although these numbers are identical to the Vision-S 01, its other dimensions are notably different.

Sony’s new concept EV measures 76 inches wide and 65 inches tall. That makes it larger than the original 01 concept. Additionally, its 6.2-inch ground clearance and 5,467-pound weight are more than the 01 concept. In conclusion, the Sony Vision-S 02 is a bigger, bulkier vehicle that sits higher than its predecessor. That’s how we know we’ve got ourselves Sony’s subsequent entry into the EV world, an electric SUV.

Sony Vision-S 02 electric SUV concept shares a lot with the Vision-S 01

The first Sony EV concept shares its underpinnings with the new one, which is no surprise. For instance, the double-wishbone front and rear suspension with air springs, plus a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain. Moreover, the powertrain consists of two electric motors that make 268 horsepower. Thanks to the aerodynamics of the larger vehicle, it is a bit slower than its sedan sibling. Sony’s electric SUV concept’s top speed is 112 mph, compared to 149 mph for the sedan concept.

Next, the Sony Vision-S 02 design is also similar to the sedan concept. Similarly-shaped headlights, an illuminated grille, and thin intakes on the bumper look futuristic. Next, the aero-style 20-inch wheels and full body-width LED bar in the rear make it stand out even more. The wheels look similar to Tesla-style ones, and the LED bar resembles a Lincoln SUV.

Vision-S 02 concept: interior

Speaking of stepping into the future, the interior of the concept electric SUV takes you there. Firstly, cascading across the front dashboard are three separate large screens. The center screen operates all the vehicle’s many functions, while the other two are for the digital mirrors. Next, a small climate control unit is present, with two more screens mounted on the seatbacks for rear passengers. There are nine screens total inside the cabin of the concept vehicle.

Speakers, which are mounted on the seats, are compatible with 360 Reality Audio. High-quality audio will be paramount since you can play PlayStation games through the console. Not to mention Bravia Core and 5G connectivity are available from inside. Are you not entertained?

Lastly, Sony heavily emphasizes the use of safety systems in its concept vehicles. The Sony electric SUV concept comes with high-resolution CMOS image sensors and LiDAR. Next, Sony is testing ADAS systems in Europe for Level 2+ autonomous capability on public roads. According to CarScoops, it previously pledged it would have Level 4 capability in the future.

Sony Mobility Inc coming Spring 2022

In conclusion, Sony Mobility Inc will establish itself in the Spring of 2022. The tech giant’s new venture aims to “further accelerate and make new proposals that further evolve the mobility experience.” It’s too early to talk about a release date, but we should expect to see production versions of the Sony Vision-S 01 and 02 concepts sooner than later.

Are you interested in buying a Sony electric SUV or sedan? The future is bright for consumers, as more competition means more improvements. Do you think Sony will scare companies like Tesla, Rivian, and more into improving their models? If there’s one thing the tech company can do, it’s innovate and improving. Hopefully, it’ll be easier to buy the Vision-S 02 than a PlayStation 5.