Volkswagen ID. CODE shows next-gen EV design for China

The Volkswagen Group has had a presence in China for 40 years, with its Volkswagen and Audi brands having been among the first foreign makes to enter the market which had just opened up. Over the years, the German carmaker has introduced many models which have been aligned with the specific requirements of customers in the world’s largest auto market, even to the extent of creating brands just for the market.

Today, it is systematically forging ahead with its ‘in China, for China’ strategy which sees strengthening its ecosystem of production, development, procurement and battery production in the country. It is also intensifying localization to achieve significantly shorter development cycles, with Chinese partners such as XPENG, Horizon Robotics and Thundersoft involved in the development process at an early stage.

“The sharpened strategy in China has three pillars: a comprehensive product portfolio accelerating the electrification of the brand’s models, a brand and design language developed specifically for the Chinese market, and local technical development with strong partners in China to accelerate the pace of innovation,” said Thomas Schafer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand.

Future of VW in China
As a preview of what lies on the horizon, Volkswagen unveiled the ID.CODE concept car Auto China 2024 which is on until May 4 in Beijing. “The ID. CODE gives a first preview of the future of VW in China: with a new design, a new technology standard and a holistic brand experience – specifically oriented to the needs and wishes of our Chinese customers. We are ushering in a new era of mobility in China, together with our Chinese partners,” said Schafer.

The charismatic design features of the ID. CODE include the fact that the body surfaces are strikingly clean and smooth and appear almost fluid – similar to a jet aeroplane with metal surfaces that reflect the sun and the sky. This look is reinforced by the exterior colour of the ID. CODE: Horizon blue. The visual appearance is particularly pronounced in the area of the newly designed side waistline – the flying silhouette which is drawn in between the wheelarches as on a GT sportscar.

Three design pillars
The ID. CODE embodies the new Volkswagen design strategy, defined by 3 pillars: stability, likeability and the ‘secret sauce’. The latter stands for features and shapes that surprise and create excitement. “They are defined in such a way that the international Volkswagen design team can specifically respond to the special wishes and requirements of individual large markets such as China. And that’s exactly what has happened with the ID. CODE. We have adapted the three pillars of our design strategy and customised them individually for China in order to realise the automotive ideals of our customers between Beijing and Hong Kong,” explained Andreas Mindt, Head of Volkswagen Design.

The exterior also functions as a projection surface for next-generation AI-assisted light and display systems. It is the first Volkswagen to fully communicate and interact with its surroundings through its exterior. The ID. CODE is not only a car but also a digital avatar that reacts to other road-users and provides its owners with numerous pieces of information and feedback.

Intelligent lighting system
For this, there is an intelligent lighting system at the front known as the Light Cloud, with interactive 3D Eyes (light bar below the bonnet) and an LED screen in the partially transparent front. The systems become active when the driver or an authorised user approaches, generating a visual and acoustic welcome scenario and providing the driver and passengers directly with the current weather forecast for the next two hours.

In Level 4 autonomous driving mode, the lighting systems at the front and the horizontal tail light bar – which is also equipped with 3D Eyes – interact with other road users and thus ensure added safety.

For stylistic and aerodynamic reasons, small touch panels are used in the window frame (B-pillar) instead of conventional door handles, which open and close the doors electrically. The standard exterior mirrors are replaced by exterior cameras, which are located in extremely thin and aerodynamically optimised wing housings. In purely graphic terms, they form an extension of the large bonnet right into the silhouette.

The rear cameras are integrated centrally under the roof spoiler. When Level 4 mode is active, they are framed by a light signature. The same applies to the Flying Rails – the ultra-flat and visually floating roof rails. In autonomous mode, their end areas above the bootlid are illuminated.

Below the rear window, the LED band of the tail lights spans the entire boot lid and extends far into the wings as a narrow horizontal strip. This strip and the general horizontal design of the rear area emphasise the width of the concept car. As at the front, 3D Eyes are also integrated in the outer area and interact with the surroundings. In this case, the Volkswagen logo integrated into the middle of the split horizontal strip is illuminated in red.

The bootlid extends far down to the low load sill. There are two additional radar sensors on the left and right in the lower area of the bumper – their surrounds are also illuminated when Level 4 is active. The aerodynamics of the ID. CODE are optimised in the lower rear area by a 3-dimensional diffuser.

Mobile living space
As cars gain more autonomous operation, interior designers are transforming the cabin into a ‘living space’ since the driver will be almost uninvolved in driving and therefore can interact with other occupants more. However, while the ID. CODE is proposed with fully autonomous operation, it can also be driven by a human, when required.

The mobile living space of the ID. CODE is where the real and virtual worlds meet to create a new mobility experience. It is a highly variable lounge with online connectivity and uses the highest-quality, environmentally friendly and animal-free materials. There are also high-end sound, background lighting and air-conditioning systems make for travel comfort like in a private jet.

The infotainment landscape and the world of operation familiar from the exterior accompanies the driver and passengers inside as the window surfaces become the digital stage of the avatar and other displays.

When the car is diving itself, the steering wheel retracts into the dashboard to provide additional space to rotate the front seats by 180 degrees so that passengers can sit opposite each other. It is also possible to move the seats to a sleeping position for longer journeys.

Another innovative detail is the centre console which also contains a refrigerator. It is integrated on a rail so that it can be moved and can become an elegant lamp.

The displays not only use the conventional positions in the cockpit (augmented-reality head-up display) and in the centre console, but also – as all-round Smart Windows – the side windows and the front passenger side of the windscreen.

Depending on the mode and display, the AI-assisted avatar can be shown here in order to use its services. Realistic 3D scenarios are displayed in a completely newly developed Wide-R screen, which covers the entire inside width of the cabin and extends into the doors.

European manufacturers have long given attention to air quality inside the car and since the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of air-filtration systems has become even more sophisticated. . If no one is on board the ID. CODE, the time can be used to put the car into Hygiene mode. The air in the car is then cleaned by UV light, a robot vacuum cleaner, and the antibacterial air filters. This mode is particularly helpful after a long trip is especially beneficial if the ID. CODE is used as a shuttle.

Preview of design, not drive technologies
The intent of the ID. CODE is primarily to preview future design language and technical information is not available, other than that it will have Level 4 autonomy. The ‘ID’ designator naturally signifies it is fully electric as that is used only for battery electric models. The systems and drive are supplied with energy not only by a lithium-ion battery, but also by solar power with a photovoltaic system integrated into the transparent ‘energy roof’.

It’s likely that Volkswagen will draw on the expertise of its Chinese partners for drivetrain technologies (which the Chinese are already known to be very advanced in) and focus more on exterior and interior design, like smart.

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