[Auto] Kyocera Moeye Concept, a classic design with the technologies of the future

[G h o s t l y.]

 

The best way to get noticed if you are a newbie in the automotive industry is by launching a prototype that attracts a lot of attention. The Kyocera Moeye Concept comes from Japan, and shows a very particular vision of what the experience of traveling in an autonomous car could be like with the exterior aesthetics of a classic. But don't be fooled by its bulbous appearance, as once inside there are hardly any concessions to ancient times.
 

If the name Kyocera Corporation is unfamiliar to you, it's because it hadn't built a car until now. However, it is likely that you have used some of their products at some point, since the Kyoto-based company makes almost all kinds of electronic products, although it specializes in printers, copiers, mobile phones, LCD screens. for monitors and solar cells. With this prototype, Kyocera has wanted to apply many of its technologies in a means of transport.

Outwardly, this design exercise seems to be taken from the 1950s, although some elements such as the small cameras that act as rear-view mirrors and the LED lights give it away. According to the Japanese company, the theme of the shapes of the Moeye Concept represents literal "time", seeking to offer an experience that runs through automotive history, from the past to the future of the cars imagined by Kyocera. But if the whole outside looks retro, the cabin is a complete set.


 

Inside, don't expect to find a steering wheel or pedals, you won't drive. Kyocera focused on expanding the driver's field of vision by making part of the cabin “transparent” using optical camouflage technology. This trick is used to transform an entire 1.2 meter wide screen and A-pillars into transparent objects when displaying images captured by external cameras. The system is supported by a holographic assistant projected from a liquid crystal screen that acts as a dashboard.
 

There is also a set of “Ceraphic” LEDs as ambient lighting, similar to the natural light that would enter through the ceiling and doors. On this last part and on the dashboard are the last finishes of the Kyocera Moeye Concept: artificial jewels baptized as "Kyoto Opal". The prototype also features touch technology that replicates the sensation of pressing a real button when navigating the big screen, as well as five types of scents that can be released according to the preferences and mood of the passengers.



Unfortunately, there are no plans to bring it into production, it is just a design exercise, as mentioned at the beginning of the article. Although it is fair to say that many of these technologies we will see sooner rather than later in the cars of the future. Of course, there is still time ahead. Both the infrastructure of the road network and of the cities themselves, as well as the autonomous driving technologies themselves, have to be substantially improved to demonstrate that they can be trusted without compromising safety.