VW unveils electric autonomous ID Vizzion Concept at 2018 Geneva motor show

By Matt De Prez

6 March 2018

Volkswagen will launch a range of all-electric cars in 2020 and the ID Vizzion is a glimpse of what its next generation saloon could look like.

It drives autonomously and is operated by voice and gesture control. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it is capable of learning.

The ID Vizzion uses an electric all-wheel-drive system with two electric motors that deliver a system power of 306PS, a high-voltage battery should give a driving range of more than 400 miles. Volkswagen believes this performance will be possible in very near future.

Designed for Level 5 autonomy, there is no longer any need for a driver's seat, steering wheel, dash panel or foot pedals.

The ID Vizzion detects its environment via inter-connected laser scanners, ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors for objects in the near-zone and radar sensors for long distances, front and rear cameras and side area view cameras. The sensors are not visible in the latest I.D. concept car.

Passengers access the concept via doors that open a full 90 degrees, revealing a mobile lounge.

Gesture and voice control is used to operate the vehicle, as there is no dash panel.

The virtual assistant aboard the ID Vizzion reacts predictively to a wide variety of events and relevant points of interest. For instance, if the car is approaching a traffic jam that cannot be avoided, the interactive assistant automatically communicates the new arrival time for the given destination. If there is a cafe along the route, which one of the guests would like to make use of, the assistant asks whether it should drive to the cafe or perhaps order a 'coffee to go' and pay for it.

Three different travel modes can be activated on-board via the personal assistant: 'Relax', 'Active' and 'Family'. In the Active mode, for example, the passenger can sit as usual, work, communicate, play and call up information on the drive. As soon as a guest activates 'Relax' mode, a foot rest extends out and relaxed music is played; in this case, the ambient lighting switches to a warm colour.

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