Winners and losers at CES
Plus my report from the Dakar Rally, and a little pinball, too.
Another year, another CES behind me, and 12 whole months to recover. I'm going to need it. I'm not gonna lie: The Saudi Arabia/Las Vegas double-header was a lot. The lack of sleep didn't do my brain many favors, while the lack of moisture in the air wasn't particularly forgiving to my sinuses, either.
But these sacrifices must be made to go where the action is. And I wouldn't be anywhere else.
Winners and losers at CES
While it's pretty clear the robo vacuum with the robot arm was the big winner at CES this year, I was there to cover the automotive side of things. I heard a lot of people saying that it was a slow year, and indeed, we didn't see any major new vehicle launches there as we have had in previous years, but there was plenty enough to keep me busy.
Sony Honda Mobility showed off the latest and supposedly near-final version of their joint product, now officially called the Afeela 1. After seeing variations on this theme for five years now, I confess I was a little over it. Sadly, what I saw in Las Vegas didn't convince me otherwise. This is a project that should have hit the roads years ago. At this point, it needs to be taken out behind the barn.
I also got a look at the latest version of BMW's Vision Panoramic display and interface, which will debut in the company's Neue Klasse. That project will effectively reboot BMW, defining the company's next generation of cars, and Panoramic iDrive will be the interface. I got a closer look and spoke with BMW's software boss, Stephan Durach, to get his perspective. It looks good, but likewise, after seeing versions of this for years, the teases are getting a little tired. It's time to pull the damned sheet off the car already, BMW.
Scouts at CES
Scout, the most agrarian of today's many EV startups, seems like an odd brand to see at CES. But the company had some new tech to share, and I was glad to finally see the company's truck and SUV in the flesh after sadly having to miss the big coming-out party last fall.
First of all, they look great. My complaint still stands, these aren't the little rugged machines I wanted to see, they're both pretty huge, but that has advantages.
Advantages like being able to slap a gas-powered motor in there to act as a range extender, opening the company's addressable market by some 40 percent. That's the figure Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh quoted me when I spoke with him in Vegas. He also told me some new details on that range extender, including who's going to manufacture it and how it's installed, and you can only read that at Edmunds.
I also spoke with other members of Scout's leadership team about the decision to skip the aging (and increasingly cranky) U.S. dealership model and go with direct sales. It's a huge risk, but it feels like the right call. And hey, where better than Vegas to roll the dice on something like this? You can read that at Edmunds as well.
At Dakar with Ford
My write-up from Saudi Arabia is up for the reading, and I'm really happy with how it came out. That was my second time in the desert to hang in the bivouac and watch the cars and trucks blast across the sand. This time, I got a lot deeper into it and closer to the action, which was a fantastic experience. Sadly, in the few days between my writing and this piece's publishing, Ford's luck turned sour, but the crux of the piece is tracing the line between the company's rally roots and Dakar aspirations. I hope you'll check it out.
The Pinball Resource
And now for something completely different: Pinball.
Yes, if you know me, I have a weird obsession with the silver ball sport, particularly the restoration side of the game. Through my own efforts to keep aging machines running, I became a customer of The Pinball Resource, and the more I learned about it, the more fascinated I became. I thought it'd make for a good story, and based on the traction this piece has been getting over the past week, I'd say I was right.
I'm genuinely proud of that last one and so thrilled that I get to delve into everything I love, from Dakar to pinball. I am also incredibly thankful that you've chosen to come along for the ride.
Have a great week.