CES 2023: Wild & Wacky Future Vehicle Tech

Ready or not, here it comes.

Fascinating and terrifying – that seems to be the general vibe that modern tech is going for these days. Somehow, despite a truly impressive backlist of cautionary science fiction that shows us exactly what could happen if we allow our robots to get too intelligent, society continues to press forward with some really questionable innovations.

While some motivations are altruistic – say, improving public safety or extending human lifespan – CES 2023 showed us that the vast majority are really just about comfort and convenience. Because, let’s be honest, there’s not a whole lot of money in altruism. But a refrigerator that changes colors to suit your mood? Or a teeny tiny robot that exists solely to push a button for you? Well, shoo, take my money!

All joking aside, we recognize that no research is ever truly a waste of time. Lessons are learned and problems are solved – both of which can one day be applied to other challenges. (Or at least, one hopes.)

With that in mind, here is a list of some of the more interesting automotive-related tech spied at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show. We can’t promise it’ll improve society in any meaningful way, but it sure will liven up your daily commute.

MOBIS e-Corner System

While this feature already has a few shows under its belt, CES 2023 marked its first appearance on an actual production vehicle. Featured on the Hyundai Ioniq 5, e-Corner enables a vehicle’s all four wheels to turn 90 degrees and maneuver sideways — or “crabwalk”. The wheels can also perform zero-turn-radius rotations, diagonal driving and pivot turning, all thanks to the unique suspension upgrade.

Outside of making parallel parking a whole lot easier, we’re not too sure of the real-world application of e-Corner. Service centers should make a tidy profit though, as the cost to repair this complex system must be astronomical.

AFEELA’s ‘Media Bar’

The result of Sony and Honda’s joint venture broke cover at the CES show, and it arrived in the form of a clinical-looking electric sedan under the brand name AFEELA. Not much is known about the vehicle yet, but one clever little bit of tech caught our eye during its debut – the widescreen display bar sitting at the front of the vehicle, right between the headlights.

The new exterior feature, according to Sony and Honda, allows owners to “express” themselves by sharing information with other drivers – like the local weather report or an arrangement of colors and light.

While proposed as a fun way to personalize one’s ride, we feel it’s much more likely the AFEELA Media Bar will become a revenue driver for advertising. Indeed, during the CES debut, just as Sony Honda Mobility’s CEO Yashide Mizuno was discussing the tech’s future potential, an advertisement for Spiderman: No Way Home just happened to flit across the bar.

Automakers have certainly been looking for new profit centers – BMW now charges a heated seat subscription – and this could certainly be a possible avenue.

iVision Dee

Speaking of BMW, the German brand debuted an updated version of its vehicle exterior color-changing technology at CES 2023.

First introduced at last year’s show, the dazzling effect comes courtesy of electrophoretic technology found in e-ink, which rapidly changes the trim color. Now with an expanded palette of 32 colors, the iVision Dee lets drivers change the color of the entire exterior of the car or into different patterns like stripes and blotches.

The automaker notes that the feature will help strengthen the bond between people and their cars.

We see some more common-sense applications of this technology – like indicating whether a battery has reached full charge, or a ride-share car is free/open. It could also implement a flashing effect for when you lose your crab-walking car in a tightly-packed parking garage.

Like Sony’s Media Bar, we do wonder if a future iteration of this tech could eventually lead to roving billboards. And, in any format, it can’t be denied that iVision Dee stands to pose some issues for those in the custom vehicle wraps market.

VW ID.7’s Digital Camo

Volkswagen also seems to be innovating where exterior customization is concerned. At this year’s CES show, the automaker debuted its newest EV, a liftback sedan dubbed ID.7, but kept much of its mechanical info under wraps – literally.

VW engineers layered roughly 40 different applications of special electroluminescent paint which allow various zones of the vehicle to light up independent of one another and in tune to whatever is playing on the stereo.

True, the concept of vehicle-as-musical-lightshow isn’t entirely new. Both Metra Electronics and ORACLE (among other manufacturers) offer cool lighting accessories that achieve a similar effect, albeit limited to the undercarriage, interior, and wheels.

But we do have to admit this is a cool bit of tech, and like BMW’s e-ink setup, it could be applied both to driver customization and exterior indicator purposes.

VW ID.7’s Intelligent HVAC

Yes, VW’s newest recruit gets double mention on this list, which is a testament to its designers’ technical efforts. While the camo paint earns points for being fun, the ID.7’s new smart AC nabs our respect for being quite useful.

According to VW, the HVAC system in the ID.7 can sense an approaching driver by detecting their key fob. The solicitous feature will then begin cooling or heating the cabin, depending on outside ambient temperatures. The digitally-controlled automated air vents also offer some perks, namely better control of air flow so it disperses more effectively throughout the cabin and around passengers.

It might be frivolous to praise a feature that contributes nothing to the vehicle’s driving capabilities, efficiency or safety. But we can see this feature being an absolute godsend to those who live in oppressively hot climates or who regularly travel with small children and/or pets sensitive to extreme temperatures.

Also, we are but simple creatures who hate to sweat and this sounds like some delightful tech.

RAM EV’s Electrochromatic Glass Roof

We don’t want to toot our own horns here, but The Engine Block actually highlighted this technology for its automotive potential a few years ago after CES 2020. At the time, we spotted it on the OnePlus Concept One Smartphone where it hid four camera lenses, and noted how a less sophisticated, yet very expensive version also lived on the McLaren 720S supercar.

It’s nice to see Stellantis not only improving EC glass but also bringing it down to some level of affordability. In the case of the RAM EV, the one-piece electrochromatic glass roof can change opacity, going from clear see-through to dark sun-blocking. It also features ambient interior lighting operated through the overhead console, livening up the ride for occupants.

RAM EV’s Shadow Mode

RAM came to play, and it brought all the toys. Shadow Mode allows the burly pickup to slowly and automatically follow a driver walking ahead of it like a well-trained pup. The vehicle can even maneuver around obstacles using sensors and camera technology.

RAM’s Shadow Mode is a voice-activated feature, initiated by yet another new AI-powered virtual assistant whose name we will have to remember. Though, this one at least graduates from “disembodied friendly female robot” to “cool little 3D Ram avatar.”

The automaker says the tag-a-long feature can be useful in situations where the driver needs to move a short distance and doesn’t want to get back in the truck, such as when picking up tools or equipment from a job site. Frankly, this feels like a LOT of technical engineering for a very limited application, but who are we to judge? We just fan-girled over smart AC vents.

RAM EV’s Removable Dual-Screen Infotainment Center

As we said, RAM really understood the assignment for a show dedicated to consumer electronics.

Let’s talk infotainment. Often a part of vehicle design that leaves much to be desired, touchscreen infotainment centers are frequently buggy, poorly formatted or simply difficult to safely use while driving. We can’t speak to the RAM EV system’s operating performance, but we can comment on its design – which is a very clever reimagining of the space.

RAM opted for two 14.2-inch screens stacked atop one another to create its center display. In addition to both screens being adjustable, the bottom one is removable. That means it can be used like a tablet throughout the truck for everything from reviewing work documents to playing video games.

ZF’s Heated Seat Belt

A good example of seemingly silly tech that could solve a bigger problem, ZF’s new heated seat belts don’t just keep you toasty on a chilly morning; they also help preserve electric vehicle range by providing a more efficient way of addressing passenger comfort.

ZF incorporates the heating conductors right into the seat belt structure, without jeopardizing safety functionality. The company believes that by reducing the amount of battery current used to heat the interior, the vehicle may experience a range gain of up to 15%.