In a way, the Vision-S is a production vehicle, though. While you’ll likely never drive it as you see it, this car serves as a testbed for Sony’s various safety, assisted driving and in-car entertainment technologies that will ultimately find their way into vehicles you can buy. There’s something remarkably refreshing about the ambition to build a whole car just because you also make lots of parts that go in cars, and want to better understand how they come together.

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That mentality is part of Sony’s ethos. For whatever reason in my warped brain, Sony has always reminded me a lot of Honda. On the surface, it might have something to do with the fact both their logos use heavy, wide serif fonts, but if I had to dig deeper, it’s probably because both companies are built on principles of engineering and design simplicity. They don’t always live up to the ideals they strive for, mind you, and the strength of their conviction sometimes leads them down vanity project rabbit holes (re: everything about the PlayStation 3, or in Honda’s case, Asimo). But the shared enthusiasm for crafting functional-yet-beautiful things makes them kindred spirits, at least in my headcanon.

Image for article titled It's Been A Year And I'm Still Thinking About The Sony Car
Image: Sony
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Sony has the mentality automakers should have. It builds honest tech, typically without the blind hype that dominates the tech realm. I think that’s present in the Vision-S’ design, too. Sure, it’s not the most distinctive sedan in the world, pulling cues from all over the place; I detect some Taycan in the cinched profile, a dash of Audi A7 Sportback in the rear deck treatment and maybe just a hint of Tesla in the headlights. Still, I’m attracted to the overall result. It’s cohesive, elegant and understated, and the insignia Sony whipped up just for this car is a natural replacement for those obsolete faux grilles on EVs that automakers ought to give up already.

All this is to say I’m still on board with the Sony car — whether they make another one or not. And if they don’t, I look forward to reading about its latest adventures every six months.