Mobis modified an Ioniq 5 to make it capable of driving sideways. The car is equipped with the e-Corner System, which makes any other standard maneuver seem nothing to write home about.
The car is now called Mobion and it has just been unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show. It is basically a Hyundai with some visual changes and some technical upgrades.
The car received redesigned front and rear bumpers, as well as new headlights and taillights. Both those at the front and rear are capable of conveying information to pedestrians and other traffic participants.
According to the company that worked on the Ioniq 5, the rear lights can alert other road users of the presence of a pedestrian when they cannot see them. Furthermore, the special headlamps that equip the car can act as turn lights, showing the direction of the vehicle.
The new ground projection system, active across a 360-degree spectrum, can project crosswalk stripes on the ground to let pedestrians know it is safe to cross the street.
And there is more. The rear bumper can alert drivers of changing lanes and passing as the pedestrian crosses the street to the left or to the right.
But what really awed the crowd at the CES 2024 in Las Vegas was the next-generation e-Corner System. The technology is linked to the steering, braking, and suspension of the car and integrates four small electric motors mounted inside each wheel. This configuration enables each wheel to generate its own power and operate independently.
The wheels turn more than in any other car, being capable of pivoting in a 360-degree spin. This means that it can drive sideways, which would make maneuvering into and out of a parking space really easy.
The concept car also features two short-distance LiDAR sensors installed near the headlights and joined by a long-distance LiDAR sensor positioned in the front panel. The assembly helps the car move laterally and diagonally in safe conditions as it is capable of identifying nearby objects. This tech is particularly helpful when changing lanes at high speed, for instance, not just for driving out of a parking spot.
Hyundai Mobis Vice President Lee Seung-Hwan says that the In-Wheel technology is ready for immediate mass production. When that is supposed to happen, not even the creators of the technology know right now. One thing is for sure. The first brand to get is going to be a Hyundai-branded model, with the Ioniq 5 sitting in pole position.
Mobis has already conducted successful on-road tests to make sure the capabilities of the system operate regardless of the road conditions. At the Convention Center in Las Vegas, the company carried out several demonstrations at slow speed, but the moves can be performed faster than shown in the videos.
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