The "Dieselgate" scandal of 2015 gave Volkswagen an awfully big headache, but it also prompted the German to take electrification a bit more seriously. In recent years, Volkswagen unleashed a series of EVs wearing the "I.D." badge that preview upcoming production models. The fourth vehicle in this series is called the I.D. Vizzion and showcased Volkswagen's vision of a spacious, fully electric, and autonomous four-door sedan at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

The German automaker’s lineup of I.D. concept models offers a glimpse at what Volkswagen has planned for the future. Three previous I.D. models have made their way across international stages, but this, the I.D. Vizzion Concept, is the first one designed to be fully autonomous. It doesn’t even have the option for human input. Yep, there is no steering wheel, pedals, or shifter – it’s all handled by the computer. Volkswagen calls this computer the “digital chauffeur.”

Simply plug in your destination, and the car takes care of the rest while passengers sit back and use their new free time for other tasks. The I.D. Vizzion is part of the company's aggressive electric vehicle campaign, which includes 20 all-new EVs by 2025, so a production model is due to follow at some point. Until that happens, let's see what this concept car is all about

Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion.

2018 Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion

Specifications
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  • Model: 2018 Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion
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Pros
Cons

Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion Exterior

- Notchback body layout - Futuristic design - Simple, yet muscular cues - LED lighting - Short overhangs - Large wheels - Symmetrical roofline

Needless to say, the I.D. Vizzion looks significantly different than current Volkswagen production models, but this is far from surprising given that we're looking at a concept. On the other hand, it shares many features with other I.D. concept, including the clean, crisp body lines, the muscular fenders, and the thin light units.

The I.D. Vizzion is a four-door sedan with roomy seating for four. The conventionally opening front door combined with rear-opening, suicide-style rear doors for an extremely open entrance into the Vizzion’s interior. The car has very short front overhang and nose, making the most of the car’s 16.7-foot length. It also has a short decklid, which gives it a notchback-style appearance. It seems that this body style is returning to popularity as more and more automakers are designing their concept cars this way.

The I.D. Vizzion’s overall design is futuristic, looking like something from Tron. The headlamps are really thin and continue into the grille with thinner strips that surround the "VW" badge. The trapezoidal grille has slim horizontal slats and it's painted in the same color as the body, leaving only small sections above and below in black. The front bumper is clean and simple, while the front hood is rather muscular with raised edges.

Large fanblade-style wheels with low-profile tires give the side view a cool look. The muscular fenders and the almost symmetrical roofline further add to the basic yet sporty appearance. The rear fascia is very similar to the front, with white LED strips surrounding the badge and equally thin red taillights. The trunklid opening is wide for proper access and the bumper is as simple as they get. There are no exhaust pipes, which makes sense given that the concept car is fully electric.

Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion Interior

- Driverless concept - Four seats - Lots of room for passengers - State-of-the-art tech - Gesture control - "Virtual host" feature

The futuristic feel continues inside the VW I.D. Vizzion Concept. Most noticeable is the missing driver controls. The dashboard is simply an accent piece mounted far away from the front occupants. The only controls are mounted on the center console. Both the front and rear seats have circular knobs glowing in a fluorescent teal color with what appears to be wood trim surrounding it.

Those who ride in the I.D. Vizzion will be happy it drives itself. The seats and surrounding interior appear very comfortable and suitable for long rides across the country. Legroom appears to be extremely generous, while elbow room is aided by the division between the seats. There won’t be anyone squished in the rear middle seat in the I.D. Vizzion.

Volkswagen makes an excellent point about the I.D. Vizzion and its self-driving capabilities: it opens travel to the population segment that cannot currently drive. This includes the elderly, the young, and the disabled. The "digital chauffeur" comes with many assistance systems and enables the vehicle to drive, steer and navigate autonomously in traffic. A virtual host, with which passengers communicate via voice and gesture control, knows the personal preferences of the vehicle guests thanks to complete embedding into the digital ecosystem. It also adapts to each of them individually.

Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion Drivetrain

- Two electric motors - 111-kWh lithium-ion battery - 225-kW output - 112-mph top speed - A total range of 413 miles

The I.D. Vizzion Concept gets its juice from a 111-kWh lithium-ion battery and a pair of electric motors that deliver 225 kW combined. That's 302 horsepower, which is pretty good for an all-electric vehicle. No word on acceleration performance, but Volkswagen did say that the concept car will hit a top speed of 112 mph.

Total range is estimated at up to 413 miles when regenerative braking is factored in. That's more than any other EV available at this point, but it remains to be seen if the production model will return something similar.

Naturally, without any input from a driver, the drivetrain becomes far less interesting. There’s no talk of manual transmissions, forced induction, or supercar-levels of grip to get excited about. Fully autonomous cars are basically fancy appliances that transport. They are not sources of entertainment as current vehicles can be – even the cheap ones not designed to be "fun." Nevertheless, the drivetrain's range and charge time will become ever more important as the future becomes reality.

Conclusion

The I.D. Vizzion Concept represents what Volkswagen wants to accomplish by 2025. In fact, VW is scheduled to begin building the Golf-sized I.D. hatchback by 2020 in the electric compact car class. Behind that will come an electric crossover based on the I.D. Crozz, followed shortly by the production version of the I.D. Buzz – the minivan-style vehicle inspired by the original VW Type 2 Bus. The production version of the I.D. Vizzion will follow after that. Beyond these I.D. models, Volkswagen says it wants more than 20 electric models by 2025. Volkswagen has a long way to go in less than seven years and it will be a tough road ahead. Thankfully, shared technology and chassis architecture will undoubtedly help VW achieve this goal while producing “different” models that suit different needs.

References

Volkswagen ID

Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Buzz.

Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II

Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Crozz

Read more Volkswagen news.

Read more Geneva Motor Show news.