Taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the biggest event in the technology industry calendar. With the rapid rise in electrification, autonomous cars and advanced infotainment systems, it's fast becoming a key event in the car world, too.
The event now attracts major manufacturers across the globe including Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan. Smaller firms such as Byton and Fisker also bring their innovation to the table. They're joined by hundreds of firms showcasing new technology and systems that will be used in road cars in the coming years.
Here are some of the key car reveals to be expected at CES, this year. The show will be held between Sunday, January 7, 2018 and Friday January 12, 2018.
Kia
Kia will launch a new electric concept car that previews the forthcoming Niro EV. The Korean brand will also display a range of new technology – including autonomous systems and what the brand claims to be the world’s first in-car 5G mobile data system.
Hyundai
Hyundai will launch its new hydrogen fuel cell EV at CES. While it has released some preview images of the SUV, the Korean carmaker won’t reveal the name of the new machine until the show.
The autonomous systems that the concept will feature will be developed in a partnership with Aurora. The tech is due to reach production cars by 2021. Hyundai will also showcase a new artificial intelligence-enhanced personal cockpit concept.
Mercedes-Benz
The German automaker will use the CES as an opportunity to showcase its new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. The system will feature in the forthcoming A-class, as well as other new models.
Mercedes will also display the previously seen Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar, the Concept EQA electric car and the Smart Vision EQ ForTwo, amongst others.
Nissan
Nissan will showcase an innovative brain-to-vehicle technology system. This system uses sensors to monitor a driver's brainwave activity and (Nissan claims) will enable vehicles to anticipate and perform driving actions up to 0.5sec quicker than drivers.
Byton
The Chinese-owned start-up company, headed by ex-BMW i boss, Carsten Breitfeld, will preview its first model – a mid-sized electric SUV – with a concept car. The concept features a distinctive 49.2-inch touchscreen, spanning the entire length of the dashboard.
Toyota
The Toyota Research Institute will display Platform 3.0 – its new automated driving research vehicle. Based on a Lexus LS 600h L, the machine has greater technological capabilities than Toyota’s previous research machines and has been designed to conceal its sensors and cameras.
The Platform 3.0 design features a 360-degree Luminar LIDAR, enabled by four high-resolution LIDAR scanning heads. There are also additional short-range LIDAR sensors placed lower on the car to detect smaller objects. Toyota will start low-volume production of Platform 3.0 test cars in spring, at its Prototype Development Center in Michigan.
Last year, Toyota showcased the Concept-I – an autonomous electric machine designed to focus on user experience. Toyota revealed a more developed version of the machine at last year's Tokyo motor show.
Fisker
The electric car firm will launch its new Emotion machine at the show. Designed by company boss Henrik Fisker, the firm claims the Emotion will have a range of more than 643km and a top speed of 260kph.
Rinspeed
Tuning firm and concept car specialists Rinspeed will display the Snap – a two-section machine that features removable pod sections and fully autonomous driving capability.
Ford
Ford boss Jim Hackett has been slotted to deliver the prestigious CES keynote address, this year. His speech will focus on the development of mobility solutions in smart cities.
Honda
Honda’s presence at CES, this year, will be focused on robotics, artificial intelligence and energy solutions rather than cars. It will showcase its new 3E (Empower, Experience and Empathy) Robotics Concept with four machines – including an autonomous off-road vehicle concept.
The Japanese company will also reveal its Mobile Power Pack World, which includes a portable, swappable battery pack for electric vehicles and a battery exchanger concept.
Also at CES
The major car firms will be joined at CES by a myriad of other companies involved in the car industry. 535 firms have been listed at automotive/vehicle technology exhibitors.
Performance EV specialist, Genovation Cars, will display its second generation GXE – an all-electric machine based on a Chevrolet C7 Corvette Grand Sport. The previous GEE (based on a Corvette Z06) produced 600hp and set a land-speed record for a road-legal EV, reaching 330.8kph. Reports suggest the electric motor in the new model could top 800hp.
Tesla is planning a 'game-changing' electric pick-up truck, but a firm called the Workhorse Group already has a range-extender version up and running. The Workhouse Group's W-15 features a petrol-electric powertrain capable of 128.7km on electric power.
With EV cars on the rise, plenty of firms are focusing on how to develop a charging network. For example, Continental is presenting a concept that uses a wide network of wireless micro-chargers to top-up cars regularly, throughout the day.
Augmented reality systems will also be prominently featured. Swiss firm WayRay will display a holographic AR satnav system called Navion, which projects route information onto a windscreen, making it appear as if it's on the road ahead.
Plenty of firms will display autonomous driving tech and systems. Phantom Automotive will demonstrate a device that allows operators to take remote control of autonomous-enabled vehicles, for times when self-driving cars encounter obstacles they don’t recognise.