Ah, yes, Sony and Honda. A joint venture that combines the best of both worlds in entertainment and driving: Sony Honda Mobility. Even before the Afeela 1 was announced, thousands of car enthusiasts around the world have enjoyed numerous Honda cars through the PlayStation console and Gran Turismo. I know I have.

So, why does this upcoming progeny of two of Japan’s biggest names leave me feeling cold? Because with each passing day, it seems that the pure enjoyment of driving is being replaced by the cold, artificial environment of computers and algorithms in what the auto industry is calling the “software-defined vehicle” (SDV). The joint venture was only formed in 2022, so the lightning fast development just shows the exponential speed of technology these days.

Announced recently at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the Afeela 1 is going into production this year in Ohio, with deliveries expected in mid-2026. Perusing through the press release is sifting through a word salad of seemingly AI-generated copy, but this much can be gleaned:

• Advanced Driving Aids (of course), assisted by no fewer than 40 sensors consisting of LIDAR, cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors.

• Customized spaces per occupant, with screens and audio (including Sony’s 360° spatial sound technology) tailored to each individual, along with active noise cancellation so you’ll be traveling in your own little cocoon.

• The Afeela Personal Agent, so you can make the car do your bidding via AI-powered voice commands. And of course, Over The Air (OTA) updates, so the car gets better over the years.

The official PR didn’t disclose the technical details car guys normally look for—like what’s under the hood and stuff—which almost led me to think that this was something along the lines of Donald Trump’s “concept of a plan.” But this is the Japanese we’re talking about, and they don’t do that sort of thing. Anyway, I found it deep in the website:

It’s a dual-motor system with a 241hp electric motor at both ends, powered by a 91kWh lithium-ion battery and with an estimated range of 482km. It can take both AC charging (11kW) and DC (150kW), and uses the NACS Supercharger so it can use the Tesla Supercharging Network in the US.

True to its Honda-ness, the front suspension is an expensive double-wishbone setup, while the back is a multilink, and there’s air suspension and active spoiler technology, too. The Afeela 1 Origin gets 19-inch tires, while the Afeela 1 Signature gets 21-inchers.

Notably, Sony Honda stops short of saying that this will be capable of self-driving, only saying that the combination of multiple sensors, a high-powered 800 TOPS ECU, and AI will provide very advanced driver assistance from the moment you start the car to the time you park at your destination.

I’m actually interested in the “3D Motion Management System,” which elevates the car above the usual high-end active suspension technology. The system uses robotics, integrating control of the powertrain, the brakes, and the suspension for optimal performance depending on the road surface. Demo videos of the Afeela on track show a flat cornering stance around hairpins, and zero tire slippage even on a wet surface.

Pricing has been announced at $89,900 (P5,250,000) for the Afeela 1 Origin, and $102,900 (P6,011,000) for the Afeela 1 Signature. Steep for a Honda, yes, but incorporating technology that should give it an edge over the increasingly high-tech Chinese offerings from Nio, Huawei, and the like, none of which are currently available in the US. At the very least, it should give Tesla a run for its money.

Reservations are already open on the website, too, at just $200 (refundable).

As software-defined vehicles trickle down to the masses in a few more years, I think I’ll hang on to my old, ICE-powered car for a little while longer. It will probably feel Jurassic before the decade ends, but the pure enjoyment of driving a machine with minimal computer involvement will be a rare thing by then.