Geneva show: Volkswagen exposes ID Vizzion flagship

VOLKSWAGEN has continued its transformation into an electric-vehicle innovator in the wake of its diesel emissions cheating with the reveal of the ID Vizzion flagship emissions-free sedan that is due for market release before 2022.

An Australian on-sale date is also expected in the next five years, along with the rest of Volkswagen’s electric ID family that includes the ID Crozz SUV revealed at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, the ID Buzz people mover shown during the 2017 Detroit show and the ID electric small car revealed in Paris in 2016.

Speaking to GoAuto, Volkswagen Australia general manager of corporate communications Paul Pottinger said to expect the production version of the ID Vizzion to be available locally “post-2020”, alongside its emissions-free siblings.

“When the ID family comes to reality in Australia … it will be a fully fledged family,” he said.

“They might not be precisely in that form obviously, because it’s all quite conceptual, but I think, for concept cars, they’re all quite fully fledged.

“There will be a full range of EV Volkswagens.”

Revealed at this year’s Geneva motor show, Volkswagen is clearly looking to dethrone the Tesla Model S as the king of large and luxurious pure-electric sedans.

Built on the same modular electrification toolkit (MEB) as its ID stablemates, the ID Vizzionuses a 111kWh lithium-ion battery – the same size unit as found in ID Buzz – and two electric motors for a combined system output of 225kW.

The German car-maker claims a driving distance of 665km which outclasses the longest-legged Tesla Model S, at 632km, while the twin electric motors mounted front and rear give the ID Vizzion all-wheel-drive capabilities for a zero to 100km/h acceleration time of 6.3 seconds.

From the outside, the ID Vizzion wears sleek sheet metal with flush-fitting doorhandles, a high waistline and bulging wheelarches, as well as being “as large as a Passat” but offering “as much space in the interior as a Phaeton”.

Measuring 5163mm long, 1947mm wide, 1506mm high with a 3100mm wheelbase, the ID Vizzion is 301mm longer, 76mm wider, 71mm taller with a 263mm larger wheelbase than Volkswagen Australia’s flagship Arteon sedan.

The front end features a gapless grille with five light-up horizontal strips and slim HD Matrix headlights for a wide and imposing stance, while the rear continues the horizontal motif with a wraparound lighting element and thin tail-lights.

The LED lighting up front is designated ‘IQ light’ by Volkswagen and can adapt to environments and different driving situations, as well as when occupants approach the vehicle.

Large 24-inch wheels and suicide doors that open a full 90 degrees hint at the ID Vizzion’s concept car status, while the lack of steering wheel and pedals inside confirm the electric sedan is not-yet-ready for production.

In lieu of traditional driving methods, Volkswagen says the ID Vizzion “is prepared for fully autonomous driving” featuring an artificial intelligence-powered, learning “virtual host” that can display information through augmented reality and occupants can interact with via voice and gesture controls.

Thanks to cleverly-mounted laser scanners, ultrasonic and radar sensors and surround-view cameras, as well as traffic data from the cloud and vehicle-to-vehicle/vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, the ID Vizzion is Level 5 autonomous driving capable, able to navigate itself without any driver input.

Various driving modes can be selected, including Relax, Active, Family that can transform the interior of the ID Vizzion to suit, while the Microsoft-powered HoloLens augmented reality can be set to Business, Navigation, Entertain, Communication and Learning modes.

Although Level 4 and 5 autonomous driving is yet to be made legal anywhere in the world, Volkswagen expects legislation will be pushed through from 2025.

Inside, occupants will be recognised by a biometric facial scan or smart device where the ID Vizzion will adjust vehicle settings such as seat adjustment, climate control and audio levels to the individual.

Offering seating for four, the ID Vizzion’s cabin was “designed to surround the passengers like a cocoon, creating a relaxed atmosphere”, according to Volkswagen, and includes foot rests, vegetable-tanned leather, untreated wood surfaces, large windows and a panoramic sunroof.

Glass surfaces can also be darkened electronically.

For those that want a little interaction though, the ID Vizzion sports two rotary control knobs positioned front and rear for manual control of audio volume and navigation input.

However, the production version of ID Vizzion will sport more traditional input methods as revealed by Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess.

“The ID VIzzion is our very realistic vision for a Volkswagen of the future.

And we will be offering this model – by the latest in 2022 as the top sedan in the ID family with the innovative ID cockpit and a steering wheel,” he said.

“The model will be prepared for fully autonomous driving. Step-by-step, it will relieve the driver of tasks – if the driver so wishes.

“With the ID Vizzion we are underlining Volkswagen’s claim: we want to be among the leaders in shaping the individual mobility of the future.”

Volkswagen plans to use its MEB platform to underpin “more than 15 full electric models”, which includes the four aforementioned ID models, by 2025 with sales of emissions-free models expected to hit one million.