Batteries included: Sony Vision-S nears reality

Sony has released a new video showing a late-stage prototype of its Vision-S pure-electric car testing on roads in Austria ahead of a possible launch in late 2021.

The video, which features a prototype Sony Vision-S being driven on public roads in the Austrian Alps, is claimed to have been partly shot on Sony's latest Airpeak drone.

No more details were released with the new video of the Sony EV being tested, but the electronics giant is expected to make a big announcement later this week at the virtual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), confirming a production date and inviting buyers to place a deposit for a car from the first batch.

We already know lots about the Japanese electric car that could soon steal sales from Tesla, following its shock unveiling at last year's CES.

Created in partnership with Magna Steyr, the Sony Vision-S will sit on the Austrian engineering firm's all-new architecture it has created for pure-electric vehicles.

Instead of going it alone, the Sony car will feature components from Bosch, Nvidia, Continental, ZF and other leading automotive parts suppliers.

Sony, meanwhile, will concentrate its considerable resources on equipping the Vision-S with the world's finest infotainment system and state-of-the-art autonomous driver aids.

The latter relies on an incredible 33 sensors dotted all around the vehicle, including LiDAR and cutting-edge cameras that use imaging technology that ensures what the car 'sees' is real.

There's no official confirmation, but it's rumoured the Sony Vision-S might also come with ground-breaking new battery technology that could offer ultra-quick charging and a class-leading range.

Powering the prototype are two 200kW electric motors that provide all-wheel drive and a 0-100km/h time comfortably below 4.8 seconds.

Back in January last year, Sony said it was developing the Vision-S to launch with Level 2 autonomy, but revealed it planned to upgrade its driverless tech during the EV's lifecycle, possibly using over-the-air updates.

The Vision-S is believed to have all the hardware needed for at least Level 4 autonomy.

Stay tuned, as Sony is expected to reveal full details later this week.

Sony's recent foray into the automotive industry isn't a toe-in-the water exercise. It already supplies its sensor tech and in-car entertainment to other car-makers, including Lexus.