It has just been a few months since CES 2019 ended, but the all the major manufacturers are already gearing up for the upcoming CES 2020 and this looks like a perfect opportunity to review what we have seen in Las Vegas.
One of the biggest cars shows on the planet, CES occupies the entire Las Vegas Strip, with its shining neon lights playing incredible effects on the cars. It almost looks like the entire thing was designed to host car shows. Many companies take this opportunity to reveal their wildest, most futuristic design in a setting that is perfect for them, but this year’s show has taken one step beyond. Never have we seen so many science fiction designs and concepts, ranging from new all-electric vehicles and motorcycles to self-driving cars, and even electric skateboards. And if those aren’t wild enough for you, there were also drone helicopters and smart yachts.
Here are several designs that caught our eye.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA was one of the highest-profile reveals at CES. It features a semi-autonomous driving system, allowing for a hands-free drive, coupled with new MBUX voice controls. Expected to be on sale by the end of 2019, the new CLA still hasn’t got an official price.
Nissan IMx Kuro
Nissan’s vision of all-electric, zero emission, fully autonomous crossover, IMx Kuro won’t be in production until late 2020, but from what we have seen, the design is outrageous, with an OLED display covering the entire dashboard.
Mercedes-Benz Vision Urbanetic
Another reveal from Mercedes, this time a futuristic concept called Vision Urbanetic. The vehicle is based on an autonomous driving platform, designed to have several bodies, depending on the role. It can serve as a minibus with enough space for 20 people or an urban delivery vehicle. The platform houses all of the electric components that are in charge of propulsion and autonomous self-drive.
Audi Aicon
Although reveled two years ago, Audi Aicon still isn’t ready to enter production. The company hopes that it will start manufacturing it by the end of 2024.
Mitsubishi Emirai 4
The fourth version of the Mitsubishi smart mobility vehicle has been a great hit on CES 2019. Emirai got several upgrades, including heads-up, augmented reality display with 3D mapping, and a mirror with diagonal LCD, enchanting the 3D feeling for the driver. It also has biometric authentication and mobile payment integration.
BMW Vision iNext
Another German car maker, BMW has presented its Vision iNext concept, best described as a sci-fi living room on wheels. Its luxurious interior has a bit of a retro feel to it, reminding us of Jetsons. The car is fully autonomous, allowing its passengers to sit back and relax, while it zooms around on a highway.
Harley-Davidson LiveWire
You know that the times are changing when even Harley Davidson is revealing electric bikes. Created in partnership with Panasonic Automotive, the new hog has many bells and whistles, like GRS and LTE connectivity, supported by a 4.3-inch liquid crystal touch-screen display built into the dashboard with integrated navigation and music. Performance-wise, it is one of the fastest bikes Harley Davidson ever made, going from zero to 60 in less than 3.5 seconds. A single battery charge will get you about 110 miles, which should be enough for a daily commute.
Furrion Adonis Yacht
The 78-foot Furrion Adonis was hard to miss among cars parked around it. A high-tech luxury cruiser features an onboard AI assistant, called Angela. Not very original, but it can make your food from the kitchen, play music, and control cameras on the yacht.
Byton M-Byte
Hoping to compete with Tesla, Byton had two new models this year. Both are autonomous, all-electric cars. The M-Byte is the more affordable one, costing $45,000.
Waymo One
Waymo One is a production car based on Waymo concept Alphabet revealed last year. It is marketed as the first commercial self-driving car, with just one hundred being made for lucky customers.
2020 Lincoln Aviator
The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, powering this plug-in hybrid and providing 450 horsepower, luxurious interior and many smart features all pale in comparison with Lincoln Aviator’s sound system. The car comes with no less than 28 speakers.
Bell Nexus Air Taxi
Bell is already testing its new rideshare drone in the skies over Dallas, Dubai, and Los Angeles. The drone looks like it just came out of a sci-fi movie and it is easy to imagine space marines disembarking from it. Bell is hoping to use it in service by 2025.
Nvidia Drive Autopilot
Yes, you read it right, Nvidia makes cars now. Well, it makes autonomous driving systems, but it needs a car to demonstrate it. The new system allows Level 2 autonomy, controlling acceleration, braking, and steering.
