Sony unveils EV, Volkswagen’s retro display, Cycle & Carriage goes green, BMW’s new luxury brand

Sony’s EV debuts

The Afeela 1 was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show that opened in Las Vegas on Jan 6.

At 4,914mm long, the electric vehicle (EV) is nearly as big as the Honda Accord.

Besides the suite of advanced driving assistance features meant to reduce driving stress and improve safety, the car also has a unique sound system and a high-end digital user interface.

Afeela is a joint venture between consumer electronics brand Sony and Honda. The car will be produced at Honda’s factory in Ohio in the US. Deliveries in Japan will begin in the first half of 2027.

The brand also showed the Afeela Prototype, which is the crossover, at the event. A production version based on the show car is expected to be ready in 2028.

Volkswagen goes retro, brings back buttons

Ahead of a full unveiling in May, Volkswagen has revealed how the ID. Polo’s interior looks. This is a compact electric hatchback that is smaller than the Golf.

It showcases the German carmaker’s new approach to designing its user interface.

After relying heavily on touchscreen interfaces in the current crop of models, it is bringing back conventional buttons and control dials. The satellite controls on the steering spokes have also been reimagined. Instead of being glossy, touch-sensitive switches, physical buttons are used, which should be more tactile and less prone to being activated accidentally.

As a treat for Volkswagen fans, the digital display ahead of the driver has a cheeky retro setting, which is modelled after its models from the 1980s.

Cycle & Carriage’s green makeover

Four of the largest facilities operated by Cycle & Carriage will achieve the Green Mark certification by the Building and Construction Authority by the end of 2027, following efforts to improve their overall environmental performance.

The multi-brand motor dealer has locations across Singapore, including in the Ubi industrial estate, Alexandra Road and Pandan Loop.

The move is part of the motor group’s $50 million investment to refurbish its premises to enhance customer experience, build up its sustainability credentials and make its retail infrastructure “future-ready”.

In its press statement on Jan 6, Cycle & Carriage said the work, which started in 2023, will run until 2027. This includes upgrading customer lounges and installing solar panels and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The investment applies across the brands that Cycle & Carriage represents, including Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Ora and Maxus, as well as the three Stellantis-owned brands, Citroen, Peugeot and Leapmotor.

Ultra-high-end BMW

Alpina, a German carmaker known for creating high-end sports cars based on BMWs, is officially part of BMW and relaunched as BMW Alpina – a standalone brand under the BMW Group.

The brand logo was announced on Jan 2, marking the completion of BMW’s acquisition that was announced in 2022.

Few details are given about the cars that will eventually be branded as BMW Alpina models, other than promising that the vehicles will fulfil “the most demanding expectations in terms of visuals, acoustics and feel”.

BMW also said that each car will be “an exclusive object for connoisseurs in pursuit of the extraordinary, without compromises on performance, comfort and individuality”.

The move by BMW Group to bring Alpina under its wings is said to be influenced by the ongoing transition towards electrification and increasingly demanding regulations which need the might of a larger carmaking group to address.

Alpina had been an independent manufacturer for more than 50 years, producing a small number of cars each year through a cooperation with BMW. The cars are partly assembled in BMW’s production lines before being finished at Alpina’s workshops.