The annual Consumer Electronics Show always highlights the latest “gee-wiz” technology… but lately it’s become a preview stage for automakers to looking to shine a light on their latest innovations.

At CES 20-19, BMW introduced their Intelligent Personal Assistant. It enables occupants to speak with the vehicle in a more conversational way to control key functions. It launches in BMW vehicles in March. Meanwhile, virtual reality goggles provide a life-like glimpse of what the drive will be like in the BMW Vision iNEXT when it goes into production. 

Mercedes-Benz revealed their personal assistant at last year’s CES. This year they’re updating what they call the Mercedes-Benz User Experience. Along with casual voice recognition, the system is evolving so it can identify requests based on “movement”. Las Vegas was also the site of the world première of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA… and the U.S. premiere of their first battery-electric production model… the Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Kia kept the “hi-tech” motion theme going. They’re creating a system that can “read” the emotions of a driver, and then automatically adjust the atmosphere in the cabin to improve their experience. 

Corporate cousin Hyundai is combining robotics and electric driving in their ‘Elevate' Walking Car Concept. Giving the car legs allows it to go where wheels alone won’t work.

Lincoln is celebrating a significant milestone. It’s been 80-years since the first Continental was custom built for Edsel Ford.  

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: In honor of the anniversary, the company is bringing back what they call “coach doors” that once graced Lincolns mostly during the 1960’s. You may also know them as “suicide doors”. 

They only plan to offer 80 of these Lincoln Continental 80th Anniversary Coach Door Editions for the 2019 model year. You’ll start seeing them on the road come this summer. 

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: Another piece of good news--Lincoln says they’ll offer the coach doors for the 2020 model year as well.

And that does it for this week’s Motor News.