The wheel has been one of the most transformative innovations in history. From revolutionizing the way we travel to enabling civilizations to spread across the globe, there are many ways wheels have changed our world.
Ferrari has long been adamant that its customers expect nothing less than the pinnacle of internal combustion performance on both the road and the track. However, it has begun to acknowledge the inevitable and is expected to offer a standout EV in 2025.
Honda Zero Series Saloon
Honda rolled out two EV concepts at CES, one sedan-like Saloon and the other ultra-sleek Space Hub. The Saloon is supposedly the flagship of Honda’s new “0 Series” all-electric lineup, which will arrive in 2026. It certainly looks like a concept car that will have a production version in the future.
It rides extremely low to the ground for better aerodynamics and features sustainable materials, Tron-like accents and a minimalist instrument panel with an intuitive UI. Honda promises that later versions of this EV, arriving in a few years, will be capable of charging at 80 per cent capacity in 10-15 minutes and will lose no more than 10% of its original battery capacity after 10 years.
This EV also has Level 3 autonomous capabilities thanks to a combination of lidar sensing, sensor fusion, and proprietary AI, which it can use to detect objects on and off mapped roads.
BMW i3
The BMW i3 was an early electric car that looked futuristic and used state-of-the-art construction techniques like carbon fibre. Its featherweight structure helped it offer spirited acceleration and more range than other EVs. Its low centre of mass also fosters nimble handling.
Its cabin is surprisingly adult-friendly despite its diminutive size, with head- and legroom all around. It’s also spacious enough for two rear-facing child safety seats.
Standard equipment includes a 6.5-inch infotainment system operated with a rotary dial between the front seats, Apple CarPlay and basic navigation. A premium package adds a larger, upgraded sat-nav screen, plus a garage-door opener, automatic wipers and an intelligent key. You can further customize the i3 by choosing between four ’World’ trims:
- Deka World offers dark cloth and matte silver trim.
- Mega World has brown leather and dark wood trim.
- Giga World gets a mixture of wool and leather, and Giga World Plus features light Vernasca leather and eucalyptus wood trim.
Chevrolet Bolt
GM’s affordable, all-wheel drive Bolt is a fun, quick front-drive electric hatchback with the instant torque characteristic of all EVs. Its EPA-estimated 259 miles of range makes it a great commuter car.
The Bolt offers a roster of standard features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system that allows over-the-air updates, physical knobs for volume and tuning and an intuitive digital instrument panel that shows wealth of information including energy usage and driving efficiency.
It’s also a practical car with 16.9 cubic feet of cargo space and a rear 60/40 bench seat that folds flat to expand capacity. Chevy offers a variety of options to enhance the experience, including a Driver Confidence package with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, as well as a nifty dual-level charging cord.
Chrysler Wagoneer S
Jeep has entered the all-electric SUV market with a luxury-focused vehicle. Although the Wagoneer S doesn’t appear to offer the off-road capabilities of a true 4×4, it will still be a competent SUV.
The Wagoneer S will feature an all-electric drivetrain that delivers up to 300 miles of range. It also boasts a quick zero-to-60 time, making it one of the fastest five-passenger EVs.
Inside, the cabin blends contemporary elegance with state-of-the-art features. A tech-integrated dashboard with a segment-exclusive interactive front passenger screen is complemented by premium heated and ventilated seats, a customizable rotary shifter dial, and Sicily leather accents. Adaptive cruise control and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof round out the available comforts.
Nissan Leaf
The Leaf was a huge success when it launched, proving that EVs can be as affordable as cars powered by fossil fuels. It’s not the fastest or most exciting to drive, but it’s a quiet, smooth and spacious car.
The SV Plus model can be equipped with Nissan’s Pro Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system that will take care of acceleration, braking and steering on the motorway. This makes long journeys more relaxing, though you still need to remain in control of the vehicle at all times.
However, the Leaf’s battery is still air-cooled rather than liquid-cooled, like the overwhelming majority of its competitors. It also doesn’t support triple-digit DC fast charging. That’s not the best news for buyers who want to go further between charges.
Lexus LF-ZC
The LF-ZC fleshes out the modern origami-inspired design previewed by a concept from two years ago at Tokyo’s rebranded Japan Mobility Show. It uses Lexus’ new philosophy of minimizing powertrain volume to maximize space and fresh proportions to help it stand out in a crowded EV market.
It also uses prismatic batteries to double the driving range of current BEVs and alleviate range anxiety. Its sleek form has a low roofline sliding rear doors and an aero-optimized body that Lexus says should allow it to slice through the air with a 0.2Cd drag coefficient.
Inside, the cabin features a tech-heavy dashboard with a yoke-style steering wheel and a digital display on the windshield. Lexus promises that it can use Arene, an artificial intelligence software platform, to learn the driver and offer personalized functions like remote updates and a virtual assistant called Butler.
Sony Honda Mobility
Honda and Sony have formed a partnership to produce electric cars. The Japanese company has revealed the prototype of its first vehicle, dubbed Afeela, and it plans to start selling it in 2026.
SHM CEO Yasuhide Mizuno says that Afeela will leverage Sony’s expertise in artificial intelligence, entertainment, virtual reality, and augmented reality to present a unique EV. SHM also announced that it will collaborate with KDDI for cellular connectivity.
The company showed an evolved version of its Afeela sedan at CES 2024, with slight tweaks to make it look more production-ready. The car now features more realistic front and rear lighting setups, real side-view mirrors, and a more active rear spoiler. It also features support for PlayStation games on the built-in screen. The giant screen up front is one of the biggest we’ve seen on a production car so far.
