Volkswagen has unveiled three concept cars from the ID.Core lineup, together with its Chinese joint venture partners, at the Shanghai Auto Show that is currently taking place. According to the automaker, these three models represent the next new generation of smart vehicles for the coming years.
The three models include the ID. AURA (from FAW-Volkswagen), the ID. ERA (from SAIC VOLKSWAGEN), and the ID. EVO (from Volkswagen Anhui). The automaker’s CEO Thomas Schäfer added that these three models are part of the brand’s ‘In China, for China’ strategy.
Now let’s dive into the three models and what they offer. Starting with the ID. ERA – it is a roomy full-size SUV with three rows of seats, serving as a preview of Volkswagen’s first car with range extender capability. The battery can be charged while driving and has an additional 700 km of range thanks to a fuel-powered generator. As a result, the concept vehicle can travel over 1,000 kilometres in total, in addition to its 300-kilometre range while running solely on battery power.
Moving on to the ID. EVO – it is aimed at youthful, fashion-forward consumers who want to stand out from the crowd. The first full-size SUV in Volkswagen’s ID. UNYX family to run entirely on electricity, it is built on an 800-volt platform. In addition, its high-performance zonal electronic design enhances the user experience by providing frequent over-the-air updates.
The ID. AURA, from FAW-Volkswagen, is the first concept car built on the Compact Main Platform (CMP) with zonal electrical architecture, which Volkswagen created specifically for the Chinese market. The highly automated driving system on this platform raises the bar for intelligent yet natural driving behaviour, thanks to its AI-based high computing capability.
The electric notchback concept, which combines modern technology with dynamic design, was specifically developed for budget-conscious consumers in the A-segment. The vehicle’s centre console features a smartphone-like UI/UX design, and the infotainment and vehicle operations can be easily controlled via an AI-powered humanoid assistant.
All three models are also part of the new energy vehicles (NEVs) category. Moreover, they will all be equipped with AI-based systems for automated driving. Further details about these three cars have yet to be revealed by the automaker. According to Stefan Mecha, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand for China, the automaker plans to launch 20 NEVs in China over the next three years.
(Source: Volkswagen Press Release)
