Byton is one of several Chinese electric-vehicle automakers suddenly vying for an entrance to the U.S. market around 2020, with a very tech-focused vision that doesn’t measure an automobile’s performance in zero-to-60-mph times but for its potency as an extension of our phones, tablets, and other smart devices. Next week, at CES in Las Vegas, Byton will preview an upcoming vehicle that exemplifies those priorities?showcasing an onboard interface ?at the leading edge of connected mobility, with a constantly connected system that brings up to 1000 Mb/s?five times faster than any current mobile data connection.”
With that data throughput, occupants will be able to watch movies, video chat, play games, or get work done. The company also claims to be developing a digital platform that will aggregate information and connect you with various services.
The rest of the interior of the Byton vehicle also looks squarely in the concept-car domain, even though the company calls it a driving prototype. A 49-by-10-inch screen spans the dash ahead of both driver and passenger, while the steering wheel incorporates gesture recognition, facial recognition, emotion recognition, and touch control. On the outside, the vehicle is a rather wagonlike, low-profile crossover with a steep windshield angle as well as some distinctive front lighting.
New Name, Somehow So Silicon Valley
Byton only came to be in 2016. It derived its name from the underwhelming phrase ?bytes on whe...