Five unusual cars unveiled in 2023
Although the year has just begun, 2023 has seen sideways-driving, colour-changing and pepper-spray-emitting cars unveiled. Here are five of the most unusual cars of 2023 so far.
Unveiled at this year's CES convention in Las Vegas by car manufacturer Hyundai, this Ioniq 5's unique feature is wheels that rotate 90 degrees, allowing the car to move sideways.
According to the brand, the technology will allow the car to change direction quicker and make parallel parking easier.
"It allows 90-degree rotation of the wheel when needed, for example, parking and enables crab – sideways – driving and zero-turn, which means rotation without moving forward or backwards," said the brand.
German automobile brand BMW also unveiled its i Vision Dee concept car at the CES convention. The car features colour-changing technology that allows the exterior to be covered in customised, digitally controlled patterns featuring 32 colours.
To achieve this feat, the entire exterior of the car was covered in e-ink film and divided into 240 segments that can each be individually controlled.
Rezvani Vengeance by Rezvani Motors
Car brand Rezvani Motors revealed a car that it believes is the "world's most aggressive SUV".
Named the Rezvani Vengeance, the car is equipped with numerous security features that are more commonly found in video games or on military vehicles. Features include electrified door handles, pepper-spray-emitting wing mirrors, bulletproof glass and electromagnetic pulse protection.
Kicks 327 by Nissan and New Balance
Created as a collaboration between automotive brand Nissan and sportswear company New Balance, the Kicks 327 car was designed to resemble a trainer.
Made as a promotion for the car band's Kicks SUV, the vehicle was created as a mobile version of New Balance's 327 trainer as the car's name is slang for trainers.
"The car name Kicks means sneaker in English slang," explained Nissan. "This became the origin of the idea and led to the realisation of a tie-up with sneakers."
While not as attention-grabbing as some others unveiled in 2023, the Afeela EV marks Sony's first ever car.
Designed as a "moving entertainment space", the vehicle prioritises entertainment and interaction with numerous screens for movies, games and "infotainment" both inside and on the exterior of the car.
"We want to think out of the box to revisit the underlying philosophy of vehicle design," said CEO of Sony Honda Mobility Yasuhide Mizuno.
"In addition to movies, games and music, we envision a new in-cabin experience using our expertise of UX and UI technologies."