WHEELS
SHM Afeela 1
CAN YOU AFEELA LOVE TONIGHT?
[ Words Rob Clymo ]
The interior uses up to 70% recycled materials. The surfaces are covered with plant-based Ultrasuede and faux-leather; carpeting is made from waste such as fishing nets.
$89,900 /shm-afeela.com
SHM? Afeela? What are these strange words?
Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), which is actually separate from both Sony and Honda, has been developing the Afeela 1 for the last few years. The car made its debut at the 2024 CES show in Las Vegas; a near-ready-to-go edition followed at this year’s expo, and it should be delivered to the mainstream market by the middle of next year.
Can I order one, then?
Well, not exactly. SHM is taking reservations for the all-electric saloon, but it’ll only be available in California to begin with. Built in Ohio, the Afeela 1 will come in two trims, Origin and Signature, starting at $89,900.
Any geeky highlights?
As you might expect given its pedigree, the Afeela 1 comes packed with tech both inside and out. Most strikingly, there’s a ‘media bar’ on the front that delivers messages to you, your passengers or anyone else who sees it. This could be used to show you the car’s charging status before you get in or, in the future, provide real-time weather and traffic info – or even football scores – to other road users. Inside, you get a panoramic entertainment hub that basically takes up the whole dashboard, plus screens fixed to the backs of the front seats. There’s also a bunch of intelligent driving aids.
What about the driving part?
Oh yeah, that. The Afeela 1 has a 91kWh battery pack and AWD, with one 180kW electric motor at the front and another at the rear. The stated range is up to 300 miles and it’ll recharge at up to 150kW. The Signature trim model comes with 21in alloy wheels, while the Origin makes do with 19in jobs.
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