Las Vegas's annual technology showcase has become a key event for car firms to showcase concept cars and new technology. Here's what is on display
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the biggest event in the technology industry calendar, and with the rapid rise in electrification, autonomous cars and advanced infotainment systems, it's fast becoming a key event in the car world, too.
Taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, the event now attracts major manufacturers including Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan, along with smaller firms such as Byton and Fisker. They're joined by hundreds of firms showcasing new technology and systems that will be used in road cars in the coming years.
Here are some of the key car reveals at CES this year.
Kia
Kia launched a new electric concept car that previews the forthcoming Niro EV. The Korean brand will also display a range of new technology, including autonomous systems and what it says is the world's first in-car 5G mobile data system.
Read more about the Kia electric concept car
Hyundai
Hyundai unveiled the Nero, its new hydrogen fuel cell EV at CES.
The autonomous systems that the concept will feature will be developed in a partnership with Aurora, with the tech due to reach production cars by 2021. Hyundai will also showcase a new artificial intelligence-enhanced personal cockpit concept.
Read more about the Hyundai hydrogen fuel cell-powered SUV
Mercedes-Benz
The German firm used CES to showcase its new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, which will feature in the forthcoming A-Class and other new models.
Mercedes has also displayed the previously seen Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar, the Concept EQA electric car and the Smart Vision EQ ForTwo, among others.
Read more about the interior of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Nissan
Nissan is showcasing an innovative brain-to-vehicle technology system. This uses sensors to monitor a driver's brainwave activity and, Nissan claims, will enable vehicles to anticipate and perform dricing actions up to 0.5sec quicker than drivers.
Read more about Nissan's brain-to-vehicle technology
Byton
The Chinese-owned start-up company, headed by ex-BMW i boss Carsten Breitfeld, has previewed its first model, a mid-sized electric SUV, with a concept car. The concept features a distinctive 1250mm by 25mm touchscreen that dominates the dashboard.
Read more about the Byton electric concept
Toyota
The Toyota Research Institute is displaying display Platform 3.0, its new automated driving research vehicle. Based on a Lexus LS 600h L, the machine has greater technological capabilities than Toyota's previous research machines, and has been designed to conceal the sensors and cameras.
The Platform 3.0 design features 360 degree Luminar LIDAR, enabled by four high-res LIDAR scanning heads, with additional short-range LIDAR sensors placed lower on the car to detect smaller objects. Toyota will start low-volume production of Platform 3.0 test cars in the spring at its Prototype Development Center in Michigan.
Fisker
The electric car firm launched its new Emotion machine at the show. Designed by company boss Henrik Fisker, the firm claims the Emotion will have a range of more than 400 miles and a top speed of 161mph.
Read more about the Fisker Emotion
Rinspeed
Tuning firm and concept car specialists Rinspeed is displaying the Snap, a two-section machine that features removable pod sections and fully autonomous driving capability.
Read more about the Rinspeed Snap
Photo gallery: the wacky world of Rinspeed concepts
Ford
Ford boss Jim Hackett has delivered the prestigious CES keynote address this year. His speech will focus on the development of mobility solutions in smart cities.
Honda
Honda's presence at CES is focusing on robotics, artificial intelligence and energy solutions, rather than cars. It will showcase its new 3E (Empower, Experience and Empathy) Robotics Concept with four machines, including an autonomous off-road vehicle concept.
It has also revealed its Mobile Power Pack World, which includes a portable, swappable battery pack for electric vehicles and a battery exchanger concept.
Also at CES
The major car firms will be joined at CES by myriad other companies involved in the car industry: 535 firms are listed at automotive/vehicle technology exhibitors.
Performance EV specialist Genovation Cars is showing its second generation GXE, an all-electric machine based on a Chevrolet C7 Corvette Grand Sport. The previous GEE, based on a Corvette Z06, produced 592bhp and set a land-speed record for a road-legal EV, reaching 205.6mph. Reports suggest the electric motor in the new model could top 789bhp.
Tesla is planning a 'game-changing' electric pick-up truck, but a firm called the Workhorse Group already has a range-extender version up and running. The W-15 features a petrol-electric powertrain capable of 80 miles on electric power.
With EV cars on the rise, plenty of firms are focusing on how to develop a charging network. For example, Continental is presenting a concept that uses a wide network of wireless microchargers to top cars up regularly throughout the day.
Augmented reality systems will also feature prominently. Swiss firm WayRay has demonstrated display a holographic AR sat-nav system called Navion, which projects route information onto a smart glass-enabled windscreen, so it appears as if on the road ahead.
Plenty of firms are displaying autonomous driving tech and systems. Phantom Automotive will demonstrate a device that allows operators to take remote control of autonomous-enabled vehicles, for times when self-driving cars encounter obstacles they don't recognise.
