Volkswagen has released full details of its I.D. Vizzion concept, which is making its debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The fully electric model is set to sit atop the I.D. range, which is the German brand’s range of fully electric vehicles, and is slated to go on sale by 2022 at the latest.
Based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture for fully electric vehicles, the I.D. Vizzion measures 5.16 m in length, 1.94 m wide, 1.5 m tall and has a wheelbase of 3.09 m. Within the large space is room for four occupants, each in individual seats.
As you can see, the concept relies very little on conventional controls, so interacting with the car is done via augmented reality, mixed-reality eyewear (HoloLens), voice control and gesture control. There’s also adaptive learning present thanks to artificial intelligence, which recognises, evaluates and interpret patterns, a process that evolves over time.
In any case, the lack of a steering wheel and other controls is largely in the interest of creating greater personal space. This is further supported by the fact that a driver is not necessary, and the car is capable of chauffeuring passengers on its own following Level 5 autonomy.
This naturally points towards automated driving, which is an ongoing theme from previous I.D. concepts like the Buzz EV, Crozz and 2016 original. Drivers will still have two rotary controls on the centre console to fully stop the car if needed, and there are three different travel modes – Relax, Active and Family to keep you entertained during your ride.
While the design study you see here is without a steering wheel, the all-electric car won’t be completely devoid of driver controls when it goes on sale in production form.
Powertrain for the I.D. Vizzion is comprised of two electric motors, one on each axle for all-wheel drive and produces 302 hp in total system output. The floor-mounted battery range is capable of providing an operating range of up to 665 km, says Volkswagen.
“We wil be offering this model by the latest in 2022 as the top sedan in the I.D. family with the innovative I.D. cockpit and steering wheel. The model will be prepared for fully autonomous driving. Step by step, it will relieve the driver of tasks, if the driver so wishes,” said Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess.
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VW is at the forefront of electric car technology thanks in a large part to the Dieselgate scandal. Sometimes it takes a hard knock to get companies to surge forward at lightning speed.
Currently no car maker has successfully managed to get a production ready Level 5 autonomy car on the road. Not even Tesla. It will be interesting to see a world with Levek 5 autonomy cars
Car AI will achieve full sentient awakening and thus begins Skynet.
VW said this I.D. Vizzion is only slated to go on sale by 2022 at the latest. By then, I believe many car manufacturer including Tesla would have Level 5 autonomy on their cars.