VW I.D. Vizzion

Those of you curious to know what to expect from VW’s flagship sedan of the near future, can turn your attention towards the I.D. Vizzion, a design study set to morph into a production car by 2022, serving as a replacement for the Phaeton. 

Of course, not all the technology showcased by this concept will be available to the public within the next four years. In fact, VW says that a true, real-life I.D. Vizzion might be possible by the year 2030, so we’ll have to wait a while for some features such as Level 5 autonomy and Artificial Intelligence.

Yet, the I.D. Vizzion is one of the most important cars present at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. The German automaker fully intends to move ahead with this technology, so in about a decade from now, we should have something a little bigger than a Passat driving us around autonomously. Meanwhile, we will be using only our voices and gestures in order to tell the car what to do and where to go.

The way that works is via Artificial Intelligence technology. The car’s AI will use algorithms in order to recognize, evaluate and interpret patterns, a process that will evolve over time. In order for AI to work, the program has to be able to draw its own conclusions autonomously, states V-Dub, and that’s basically their vision for the I.D. Vizzion.

This concept also moves past Level 4 autonomy and into Level 5, which basically means that it’s smart enough to ditch not just the conventional steering wheel, but also the driver’s seat, dash panel and foot pedals. The I.D. Vizzion is a fully autonomous vehicle exclusively, more of a home away from home for its owner/passengers.

Once on the move, this concept relies on two motors, two transmissions, and a 111 kWh lithium-ion battery. In front, there is a 101 HP coaxial drive motor, whereas the one at the rear pushes out 201 HP for a total of 302 HP. The concept’s zero to 100 km/h time is 6.3 seconds, its top speed is a Level 5 governed 180 km/h, while its anticipated range is 664 km on the European cycle. Also, the best way to charge the I.D. Vizzion is over an inductive interface, however conventional charging via plug-in is also possible.

Another major bonus regarding this concept is, simply put, the fact that it’s been styled to look well. VW wanted to point out that just because we may not be driving our cars in the future, doesn’t mean we’ll be forced to stop caring about what they look like.

Measurements for the I.D. Vizzion have it at 5.16 m long, 1.94 m wide and 1.5 m tall, with a ginormous wheelbase of 3.09 m – just a couple of inches shorter than on a long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class.

Aside from its sheer size, elements such as the illuminated VW badge, animated light axis, HD Matrix lights, coupe-line roofline, 24-inch wheels, rear LED strip and lack of B-pillars also help it stand out, as does the hi-tech rear window which doubles as a gigantic OLED display.

As for the interior, it features a lounge-like atmosphere, no dash panel (voice and gesture control only) and the HOLOLENS technology, which projects a virtual interface via augmented reality. There are however manual commands in the shape of two rotary controls on the center console, which passengers can use to fully stop the car if needed. In addition, this concept’s virtual assistant is constantly looking to keep you informed with regards to your surroundings and arrival times and so on, as well as trying to keep you comfortable by, for example, adjusting the temperature for you.

Passengers can activate three different travel modes in the I.D. Vizzion – Relax, Active and Family, a far cry from today’s driving modes of Normal, Comfort, Sport, Track etc. Use Active mode and you’ll be able to sit as usual, work, play and interact with the car. In Relax mode, a footrest extends out, relaxing music is played and the ambient lighting switches to a warm color. As for Family mode, while VW didn’t get into specifics, we assume it focuses on family time/communication between passengers.

With its unveiling at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the I.D. Vizzion Concept now takes its place within the I.D. family, alongside the Crozz, Buzz and the compact I.D.