The annual CES electronics show in Las Vegas has long been a fantasyland of high-def televisions, drones, video games and audio gear but, in recent years, it’s also become the place to check out the latest in high-tech automotive.
All told, more than a dozen new production and concept cars made their debut at the Las Vegas Convention Center this week, including some from as far away as Turkey and Vietnam. There’s plenty of news about autonomous vehicles, the latest in-car infotainment, and “wearable robots” that could help create “super-human” factory workers.
Here’s a look at some of the most significant CES news from the automotive front:
Electrification
That’s the big word at CES this year and, with only one exception, every new concept car and production model on display is pure electric.
GM’s Chevrolet Silverado EV is the big draw. Set to go on sale in 2023, it will be the battery-powered alternative to General Motors’ best-selling product line. What may surprise some is that, at 664 horsepower and 780 pound-feet of torque, the electric pickup has substantially more power than the top-line V-8 Silverado.
Range is considered one of the biggest challenges to widespread EV adoption, but the Mercedes-Benz EQXX concept suggests next-generation EVs will address range anxiety — and then some. The sleek prototype gets 625 miles per charge and its batteries are 50 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter than those in the recently launched Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan. No production plans have been announced, but officials say the batteries and other technologies will find their way into future Mercedes electric vehicles.
