Volkwagen's I.D. Vizzion Concept Proves V.W. Can Easily Take On Mercedes' EQ Lineup

VW is gearing up to launch a bevy of new electric vehicles over the course of the next 10 years or so, and it’s bringing out a host of technology-stuffed concepts to preview all the good things to come. Dubbed the I.D. range, the German automaker has already introduced the eponymous five-door hatchback I.D., the I.D. Crozz SUV, and the I.D. Buzz van. The latest is a premium sedan that was just revealed at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show called the I.D. Vizzion, and it brings a glimpse of things to come by the year 2030, including enough technology to turn the four-door into a “mobile smart home of a new era.”

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The Full Story

How Does It Look?

Outside, the VW I.D. Vizzion Concept has all the makings of a forward-thinking concept machine. The lines are angular and the shapes are geometric, while the proportions suggest oodles of space in the interior. The design language is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the VW I.D. line, but this is the first time we’ve seen it applied to a four-door form, and overall, we’re liking what we see.

Speaking of what we can see, Volkswagen says the headlights on the I.D. Vizzion Concept can even project things like zebra stripes to help protect pedestrians, an interesting feature that Mercedes is already playing around with on the Maybach-level S-Class.

You Said It Could Drive Itself?

Like nearly all electric concepts these days, the I.D. Vizzion brings promises of autonomous tech to the table. However, Volkswagen is setting some pretty aggressive goals for itself when it comes to actually bringing these features to market, declaring it’ll be able to offer customers fully self-driving vehicles (that is, no driver required) by 2025. It’s also touting the I.D. Vizzion as a robotic assistant capable of self-learning thanks to advanced AI technology.

Volkswagen says that in the immediate future, its vehicles will get machine learning features that can analyze a given scenario and come up with novel solutions. For example, by utilizing inputs from sensors like visual cameras, radar, and lasers, the onboard algorithms will be able to identify a nearby passenger car, as opposed to a bike or a truck, and take the appropriate actions.

Following the machine learning capabilities will be a full-blown artificial intelligence, which promises features like independent decision making and adaptation based on a given “context and situation.”

For the time being, expect tech like lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control to find its way into all of VW’s models.

What’s I.D. Vission Like Inside?

Tech galore. Voice and gesture control are used for the various features, while augmented reality tech through Microsoft HoloLens offers extra infotainment options. Connectivity is paramount here, with the Vizzion becoming a “smart device on wheels.”

“The car’s communications technology has advanced to become a host, a virtual assistant which is capable of learning empathically,” VW explains.

It’s also supremely comfortable, with users doing whatever they please in the cabin while the onboard systems take care of the task of driving. High levels of personalization tailor this “lounge” space to whatever your needs might be. Electrochemical tinting darkens the windows at a touch, while active noise cancellation keeps out unwanted wind and road noise. Onboard systems will use various biometric markers to adjust settings accordingly, such as turning on the A/C when you’re too warm.

Another cool feature is the facial recognition, which helps to identify the owner without the need for a key. VW also seems to be proposing new ownership models, either with a “sharing arrangement” or more traditional outright ownership

What About Under The Skin?

Take away the body panels and you’ll find VW’s latest electric vehicle architecture, much like you would with the rest of the I.D. range. Propulsion comes courtesy of two electric motors (one in front and one in the rear, making for AWD), with 225 kW (301 horsepower) of output on tap. Not that you’d use any of it with the AI taking the wheel. Providing the juice is a 111-kWh battery, which offers upwards of 665 km (413 miles) of range. VW says all of these specs will be “part of the very near future.”