--- title: "The Makers of Gran Turismo Will Help Sony and Honda Build a Better Electric Sedan" date: "2024-01-09" modified: "2024-01-09" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-makers-of-gran-turismo-will-help-sony-and-honda-build-a-better-electric-sedan" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Culture" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" - "Video Games" --- # The Makers of Gran Turismo Will Help Sony and Honda Build a Better Electric Sedan ![]() At last year's [Consumer Electronics Show](), Sony and Honda's EV joint venture got a name: [Afeela](). CES has kicked off in Las Vegas once again, which means we're due our annual update on the company's progress. In addition to being treated to the latest edition of Afeela's prototype electric sedan, on Monday night the company announced a collaboration with Polyphony Digital, the developers behind PlayStation's *[Gran Turismo]()* driving sim. That means, of course, that Afeela is headed for the realm of gaming, but it also means that Polyphony will contribute to the car's development. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDDIdpR4XSA First things first: the Afeela Prototype 2024, as the car is currently known, will arrive in *[Gran Turismo 7]()* sometime in 2024. Beyond that, Sony Honda Mobility will share vehicle information with the game studio, and Polyphony's simulation will be "combined" with the young automaker's vehicle development efforts, per a [press release](). That's all extremely vague, of course, but the critical detail here is that Polyphony has contributed to car making before. Aside from the ongoing [Vision Gran Turismo]() initiative, the earliest and most notable example of this is the studio's work on the [Nissan GT-R]() R35's Multi-Function Display, a system that could relay and record a multitude of performance driving parameters, back in the mid 2000s. The software even resembled *Gran Turismo 5 Prologue's* user interface, and naturally, *GT5 Prologue* was where the R35 debuted in a free update—even before Nissan was [willing to show the supercar's front end](). ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() *At bottom, Sony Honda Mobility COO Izumi Kawanishi presents the latest Afeela prototype at CES 2024. Sony Honda Mobility* So, yes—Polyphony has some expertise here. And while it's too early to tell how the two companies will collaborate outside of the Afeela vehicle's appearance in *GT7*, it was only a matter of time before the people behind Sony's car and the people behind Sony's car *games* got to talking. As a result, we'll be able to drag race a [Tesla Model 3]() Performance against Sony's future competitor in a matter of months, at least in the virtual world. Sometimes, gaming's a beautiful thing. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()