Volkswagen will be taking to the Geneva International Motor Show to present its first ever autonomous vehicle platform in the form of a new concept vehicle it calls I.D. VIZZION1. That’s according to a press release from the company’s website on February 19. Representing the fourth entry into the company’s I.D. family of vehicles, the VIZZION1 is intended to show the potential of Volkswagen’s efforts with the technology over the past several months and years. Moreover, the company says it provides a deeper look at where those efforts are headed, with the goal being to create as many as 20 all-electric vehicles by 2025. Although the auto show itself doesn’t take place until March 8, running through March 18, Volkswagen has provided at least a few details to generate excitement for the concept.
To begin with, as already mentioned, this concept is representative of the I.D. platform itself rather than being a replica of any specific vehicle that users can expect in the near future. Vehicles in the family will cover the range of vehicle types from compact cars like the Volkswagen Golf to those falling in the MPV (Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle) category. In fact, the concept car to be shown at the Geneva event will fall squarely into the latter category. The overall goal of the platform is to create a series of vehicles that are controlled by voice and gestures. There is no steering wheel and no visible controls with the I.D. VIZZION1, with the primary focus centering around safety, efficiency, comfort, and convenience. The company says I.D. vehicles will act as a kind of digital chauffeur in that they should open up transportation options for those that can’t currently drive, whether because of age limitations and other restrictions. Furthermore, the features will adapt to the preferences of individual riders based on a digital profile. Unfortunately, Volkswagen hasn’t provided many details about the technologies behind the platform and those will most likely be revealed during the auto show. However, the specific I.D. VIZZION1 concept to be shown at Geneva is said to have a power system rated at 225kW, with a top speed of around 111 mph – approximately 180 km/h. Its lithium-ion batteries have a claimed effective range of around 413 miles – or 665km – with consideration for regenerative braking. The platform is driven by two separate electric motors working in tandem to push power across a four-wheel drive system.
Finally, the I.D. range of vehicles also officially has an expected launch window following with this announcement. Volkswagen says the first compact on the platform – tentatively referred to as simply I.D., for now – will launch in 2020. That will be followed by an entry in the SUV segment with what the company currently calls the I.D. CROZZ and the MPV segment with the I.D. BUZZ.