CES 2020: Concept cars of the future shown off in Vegas By Chris Baraniuk

Technology reporter Published duration 8 January Related Topics CES

image copyright Getty Images image caption Mercedes-Benz displayed a futuristic concept car inspired by the film Avatar

Wacky concept cars, flying machines and smart bikes are being exhibited at the CES tech show in Las Vegas.

In recent years, car tech has become an increasingly important staple of the expo as firms seek the next mega-product after the smartphone.

Chip-makers and app-creators are all piling in. But the traditional car-makers are not resting on their laurels.

The efforts go far beyond new sensors for driverless vehicles - this year there are a host of flamboyant designs for entire vehicles on show.

image copyright Reuters

Honda, for one, is allowing attendees to sit in its bulbous, buggy-like concept car with minimalistic driving controls.

It has no pedals and a disc-shaped steering wheel that is pushed or pulled like a giant button in order to control acceleration.

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Fiat is exhibiting a version of its Centoventi modular concept car.

Buyers can, in theory, mix and match the components.

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This autonomous concept car from Audi has a retractable desk at the driver's seat.

Useful for a game of bridge with your passenger?

Not all the cars on show are mere concepts.

Ford's Mustang Mach E GT, below, is an electric vehicle set to be released by the end of the year.

It has a range of around 250 miles (402km) on a full charge and will cost $60,500 (£46,000).

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There's also been some surprise appearances.

Sony, the electronics giant, startled CES by unveiling a whole concept car of its own called the Vision S.

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Its interior is crammed with entertainment tech, including a panoramic screen next to the dashboard.

image copyright EPA

Another car with a sizeable dashboard display is the Byton M-Byte electric vehicle.

During a presentation, the Chinese start-up emphasised its idea that the car of the future would run on data power, not just horsepower

The M-Byte is due to go on sale later this year.

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American-Danish entrepreneur Henrik Fisker unveiled an electric sport utility vehicle, the Fisker Ocean, which he plans to make commercially available by early 2022.

It will cost $37,000 and have solar panels on its roof, he told attendees.

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Toyota is displaying its LQ Level 4 concept car, which is designed for automated driving.

It also has a built-in artificial intelligence assistant of its own called Yui.

image copyright Reuters

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A number of flying machine concepts are also on show.

Perhaps the most talked about is Hyundai's S-A1 electric Urban Air Mobility concept vehicle.

Hyundai announced that it had entered a partnership with ride-hailing giant Uber and is seeking to manufacture flying taxis for the firm in the future.

The SA-1 is designed to reach speeds of 180mph.

image copyright Getty Images

Last but not least, Cybic displayed its folding e-bike - with built-in Alexa voice assistant.