Automotive

Byton reveals its $45,000 smart intuitive vehicle (SIV) at CES

Byton reveals its $45,000 smart intuitive vehicle (SIV) at CES
Previewed on this concept SUV, Byton's electric vehicle platform will underpin several different vehicles
Previewed on this concept SUV, Byton's electric vehicle platform will underpin several different vehicles
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Byton reveals its concept at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show
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Byton reveals its concept at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show
Byton's first concept is an autonomous SUV packed with some of the latest digital technology
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Byton's first concept is an autonomous SUV packed with some of the latest digital technology 
Byton reveals its concept at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show
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Byton reveals its concept at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show
Byton intends to offer two different trims starting at $45K
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Byton intends to offer two different trims starting at $45K
The Byton Concept features a lightly sloped roofline
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The Byton Concept features a lightly sloped roofline
Byton Concept world premiere
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Byton Concept world premiere
Previewed on this concept SUV, Byton's electric vehicle platform will underpin several different vehicles
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Previewed on this concept SUV, Byton's electric vehicle platform will underpin several different vehicles
More information about Byton's planned SUV trims
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More information about Byton's planned SUV trims
Byton's Concept features a unique LED lighting signature
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Byton's Concept features a unique LED lighting signature
A peek inside the Byton cockpit
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A peek inside the Byton cockpit
A look at the Byton Concept's rear-end
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A look at the Byton Concept's rear-end
2018 Byton Concept
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2018 Byton Concept
Inside, a 49-in "shared experience display" stretches across the dashboard, joined at the rear by two passenger displays
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Inside, a 49-in "shared experience display" stretches across the dashboard, joined at the rear by two passenger displays
The Byton Concept offers touch, button, voice and hand gesture control
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The Byton Concept offers touch, button, voice and hand gesture control
The driver can control various functions with the steering wheel-based Driver Tablet and physical buttons
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The driver can control various functions with the steering wheel-based Driver Tablet and physical buttons
Byton Concept close-up
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Byton Concept close-up
The Byton Concept has side-view cameras
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The Byton Concept has side-view cameras
Byton Concept close-up
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Byton Concept close-up
With a 5G connection and cloud platform, Byton intends its vehicles to be functional spaces for work and play
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With a 5G connection and cloud platform, Byton intends its vehicles to be functional spaces for work and play
Driver and passengers can enjoy digital entertainment while the autonomous hardware does the driving
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Driver and passengers can enjoy digital entertainment while the autonomous hardware does the driving
Each B-pillar has built-in cameras for facial recognition door unlock
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Each B-pillar has built-in cameras for facial recognition door unlock
Byton's lighting glows different colors in different situations
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Byton's lighting glows different colors in different situations
Another look at that huge dash display
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Another look at that huge dash display
The Byton Concept features a four-seat interior with flat, wood floor, leather seating and plenty of digital display space
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The Byton Concept features a four-seat interior with flat, wood floor, leather seating and plenty of digital display space
View gallery - 24 images

After a thorough teasing last week, automotive startup Byton has revealed its first concept car, a "new-generation smart device built for the coming era of truly shared, smart mobility and autonomous driving." Combining cutting edge technologies like Level 3/4 autonomous driving hardware, biometric identification and a digitized cockpit with 4-ft-long (1.2-m-long) display, the simply-named Byton Concept provides a look at the future of driving, a future that can't get here soon enough.

Byton had already revealed many of the pillars behind the mid-size SUV concept's design in its teaser, but the full reveal on Sunday included more specific details. Byton intends to offer two all-electric powertrain options on the production SUV: a 268-hp (200-kW) single-motor rear-wheel drive and a 469-hp (350-kW) dual-motor four-wheel drive. Torque figures are estimated at 295 and 524 lb-ft (400 and 710 Nm), respectively.

The RWD will be powered by a 71-kWh battery with up to 249 miles (400 km) of range, and the 4WD will offer up to 323 miles (520 km) via a 95-kWh battery. Fast-charging will bring the 71-kWh battery up to 80 percent in about 30 minutes, while the 95-kWh battery will require an extra five minutes to reach the same mark.

On the outside, the Byton Concept wears a straightforward but attractive look. The 191-in (4,850-mm) SUV has a compact hood and short front overhang. Its 22-in wheels are set 116 in (2,945 mm) apart and the sloping roofline and tapered greenhouse help to move the vehicle toward the sportier side of the SUV spectrum.

Byton's first concept is an autonomous SUV packed with some of the latest digital technology
Byton's first concept is an autonomous SUV packed with some of the latest digital technology 

As we knew from the teasers, the most interesting exterior feature is the front and rear lighting. "LED lights throughout the front highlight the luminescent logo in the middle, along with connecting lines and dots that can switch to different display modes to suit different driving scenarios as well as communicate with users and pedestrians," Byton explains. The rear lighting has a similar design.

Byton claims to be all about "refining life," not just refining cars, so the interior is really where its vision takes off. The front cabin is dominated by a huge 49 x 9.8-in (125 x 25-cm) digital display that stretches from one side of the dash to the other. Called the shared experience display, the main dash screen, along with the two rear-passenger screens, rely on 5G connectivity, Byton's Life cloud platform, and an advanced machine-learning AI to provide plenty of options for entertainment and productivity.

Another look at that huge dash display
Another look at that huge dash display

The Byton Life cloud platform helps to connect driver and passengers with their greater digital footprints, bringing things like music, video and calendar preferences and settings into the vehicle. For instance, if an occupant is listening to music or watching a video on their mobile device before getting into the car, the car will seamlessly continue playing that content as they sit inside. The platform also includes a health component, linking with other health-tracking devices to keep tabs on things like weight, heart rate and blood pressure.

Byton's user interface gets most of the body involved. A triple-camera system built into each B-pillar unlocks the doors using facial recognition software and automatically adjusts cabin settings to each individual's preferences. Inside, the driver can rely on the steering wheel-based tablet to control and share content and adjust cabin settings. Voice control comes courtesy of Amazon Alexa, and hand gesture control is also supported.

The Byton Concept features a four-seat interior with flat, wood floor, leather seating and plenty of digital display space
The Byton Concept features a four-seat interior with flat, wood floor, leather seating and plenty of digital display space

Beyond its tech features, the Byton Concept interior is elegant and roomy, Byton taking advantage of the electric powertrain to create a flat floor finished in wood. The front seats don't spin fully around, as on other autonomous concepts, but they can rotate up to 12 degrees inward to promote more natural conversation.

Byton intends to launch its production SUV in China in 2019 and Europe and the US in 2020 with the base price estimated at US$45,000. At launch, the vehicle will offer a Level 3 autonomous driving suite, but Byton plans to upgrade that to Level 4 by 2020. The company will look to grow its lineup quickly, with a sedan planned for 2021 and an MPV for 2022, both built atop the same EV platform as the SUV.

Source: Byton

View gallery - 24 images
2 comments
2 comments
SteveO
I wish I could believe half of these claims. I hope they prove my skepticism wrong!
ljaques
I like that vehicle a whole lot. Too spendy, and I'm wondering if lighting safety is up to par. There might be too much back pillar for blind spot health, too. Kudos, Upton. I'd love to see these on the market, to give Elon some challenge. I'm sure we'll see some of these concepts taken up by him for his Teslas, too. Carry on!