New Art Cars from Sony Honda Mobility
Shortly after Acura and Honda canceled three upcoming electric vehicles, the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture quietly announced a new art car based on the Afeela 1 model. It was created in collaboration with Japanese illustrator Hajime Sorayama, best known for creating sexy robots.
This unexpected combination gave birth to a model named “Afeela prototype tuned up by Hajime Sorayama.” This car was presented last weekend at the Tokyo museum hosting an exhibition of the artist’s works.
Details of the Collaboration with Hajime Sorayama
SHM did not provide many details about the art car but noted that it “embodies the concepts of light, transparency, and reflection.” Externally, the model received a chrome shell, special badges from Sorayama, tinted windows, grey tires, and blue lights.
I have always been fascinated by cars, so it was a real pleasure for me to participate in designing a car. I sought to give it an analog sensitivity that hints at a vision of the near future. I am particularly proud of the moiré effect on the wheels.
Artist Hajime Sorayama shared his impressions of working on the project. In addition to the art car, the first piece of clothing under the Afeela brand was presented at the event—a black T-shirt with silkscreen printing, priced at approximately $69 USD and released in a limited edition.
Second Art Car from Collaboration with Matt Copson
Separately, for the US audience, SHM joined forces with artist and director Matt Copson to present another art car at the Frieze exhibition in Los Angeles. This car was covered in “reflective material typically used on emergency vehicles and road signs.” As a result, it looks as if it has been coated with reflective paint that glows in the dark.
The car was accompanied by limited-edition bags, and it is planned to be shown at the Frieze exhibition in New York in May.
Price and Availability
The base Afeela 1 model, on which the art cars are based, starts at a price of $89,900 USD. Its market launch is expected by the end of this year. These art projects emerge at a time when parent companies Honda and Acura are revising their electric strategies, making these creative collaborations even more expressive against the backdrop of general trends in the automotive industry. Such artistic interventions often serve not only as a marketing tool but also as a way to explore new forms of design and interaction with the public outside traditional car dealerships, attracting the attention of collectors and fans of contemporary art.