For decades, Volkswagen has led the automotive industry in innovative vehicle concepts and designs that push the boundaries of what's possible. Through their concept project cars, VW provides a peek into potential visions for mobility solutions of tomorrow. While not all concept vehicles make it into production, they offer valuable insights into technology trends and design philosophies carmakers are exploring. Volkswagen's concept cars serve as test beds for new ideas, gauging public interest and feasibility for mass manufacturing. They inspire dreamers and incite progress. In this article, we'll examine several of Volkswagen's most forward-thinking concept vehicles to see what they might say about where automotive design is headed.
ID.Life - Compact Urban Mobility
Unveiled in 2021, the ID.Life concept previews Volkswagen's vision for an affordable, versatile electric city car. Measuring less than 12 feet long, it's optimized for navigating tight urban spaces. With up to 201 horsepower from dual electric motors, it offers sufficient zip to merge into traffic. Volkswagen designed the ID.Life's interior to be highly customizable, with four individual seats and fold-flat floor allowing flexible use of interior space for passengers or cargo.
The concept draws heavily on Volkswagen's modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform, suggesting mass production compatability. Implementing MEB's scalability could bring the benefits of electric mobility to a new class of smaller, less expensive EVs. Controls for infotainment and driving functions employ touch surfaces and holograms projected onto the dashboard instead of physical buttons. This minimalist "zero layer" interface hints at the way automotive HMI may evolve to become more intuitive for upcoming generations.
By approaching the city car segment from an electric perspective first, Volkswagen demonstrates faith that battery technology continues advancing to support lower-priced EVs meeting everyone's daily needs. The ID.Life concept suggests Volkswagen is serious about leveraging MEB to transform mobility across segments, not just for luxury vehicles. It also reflects priorities around sustainability, reflecting Volkswagen's "road to emission-free mobility." Whether this concept truly foreshadows a new mass-market model remains to be seen, but it captivates the imagination for affordable urban transportation of tomorrow.
ID.Space Vizzion - Sustainable Long-Distance Travel
One class of vehicle where combustion power still dominates is luxury sedans and crossovers meant for comfortable, long-distance driving. The ID.Space Vizzion concept unveiled in 2019 explores how Volkswagen envisions satisfying these needs electrically.
Taking obvious design inspiration from the prestigious Phaeton sedan of yesteryear, the Space Vizzion stands tall and elegant. With a 121 kWh battery feedingdual electric motors producing 302 horsepower total, VW estimates it could travel about 300 miles on a charge. Plug-and-charge capability compatible with automated highways point to it being ideal for autonomous mobility applications.
Inside, the Space Vizzion provides a serene, luxurious retreat for up to five passengers. Sustainable, eco-friendly materials like AppleSkin fabric made of recycled apples add to the natural ambiance. The dashboard integrates touchscreens and augmented reality head-up displays, bringing infotainment and vehicle functions into the digital realm. With this concept, Volkswagen suggests electric powertrains need not compromise on long-range cruising comfort expected from premium brands.
Its elegant styling indicates Volkswagen aims for EVs to become status symbols of sustainability rather than strange oddities. With many governments planning combustion bans, mass producers will need compelling luxury BEV options to transition premium buyers. Perhaps the Space Vizzion sketches an aspirational preview for Volkswagen's flagship luxury brand, Porsche or Bentley, to lead the high-end electric charge. Concepts like this prove Volkswagen takes the challenges of electricity seriously across all vehicle classes.
ID.BUZZ - Nostalgic Reimagining of an Icon
Debuting in 2017, the ID.BUZZ concept revived fond memories of the Microbus while rethinking it for modern shared mobility. Though it never directly references the past, the ID.BUZZ's rounded edges and two-box design clearly paid homage to the original "Bus" beloved by the 60s counterculture.
Taking the DNA but not the form of its ancestor, the electric ID.BUZZ fused nostalgia with futuristic details. Its minimalist interior featured generously sized touchscreens and adjustable haptics-integrated seats facing each other for communal ridesharing. With a 125kWh battery and dual rear-mounted electric motors, it delivered 302hp and estimated range exceeding 250 miles. Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities when ordered turned it into a revenue-generating robotaxi.
When production ID.BUZZ debuted for the 2023 model year, it remained faithful to the concept's friendly face but dialed aerodynamics forward versus retro styling cues for maximum range. Initial reactions affirm Volkswagen hit a home run marrying accessibility and sustainability with mobility for all in one lovable package. For those not ready to let go of yesterday's free-spirited vibe, the ID.BUZZ concept satisfied that urge through a peek at what the future of the People's Car could become when rebooted for today.
I.D. Vizzion - Redefining the Minivan
Unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the I.D. Vizzion concept proposed a radical reimagining of the minivan segment. Rather than continuing the boxy utilitarian shapes minivans had evolved in, the Vizzion took after sportier crossovers in its svelte curved profile.
A low-slung sloping grille flanked by swooping LED headlights gave it a confident, cab-forward stance. Deep creases down the hood and flowing character lines along its sides imbued a sense of motion even standing still. At nearly 16 feet long, its large proportions still breathed nimbleness through balanced, softly wrought body surfacing.
Five individual seats faced each other inside an airy dual-zone lounge. A panoramic glass roof bathed the interior in natural light. Controls integrated seamlessly into dashboard surfaces, powered by augmented reality head-ups. Under the low-slung hood, a 111kWh lithium-ion battery powered two electric motors producing 330 horsepower total. With near-silent propulsion and an estimated 300 mile range, the Vizzion offered the utility of a minivan with the excitement of an EV sports coupe.
By transforming preconceptions of the archetypal people mover, Volkswagen demonstrates mobility vehicles don't have to compromise excitement or aesthetics for functionality. The I.D. Vizzion proves that with creativity and technology, any segment can be reinvented. Its elegant execution of futuristic details hints EVs may liberate designers from boxy pragmatism and usher a new era of sculptural transportation art.
I.D. Buggy - Electric Off-Roading Fun
Debuting in 2017, the I.D. Buggy concept aimed to bring the joyful simplicity of dune buggies into the electric age. Staying true to its open-air, go-anywhere roots, it shed amenities like roofs, doors and excess bodywork in favor of light yet durable construction. Centered around a 52kWh lithium-ion battery and dual rear-mounted 125kW electric motors, it offered all-wheel drive performance while preserving emotion-stirring mechanical sounds through a clever sound synthesizer.
Inside, just two individual seats faced forward under a sparse tubular frame. Adjustable harnesses and roll cage ensured occupant safety off-road. Climate systems sat near-imperceptible within lightweight frame structures. Augmented reality projected information onto the reinforced windshield instead of physical gauges cluttering the minimalist interior.
While unlikely to reach production, the I.D. Buggy showed electric powertrains don't have to strand fun, freedom-focused vehicles in the past. With clever packaging of batteries and mechanicals, EVs could enable a new wave of lightweight recreational four-wheelers as accessible as their gasoline forebears. Plus, imagine the smiles electric sand rails could bring to young and old alike discovering nature's playgrounds quietly and cleanly! Concepts like this remind us cars can prioritize feeling over functions when the goal is good, green fun in the sun.
ID.Vizzion - The Next Generation of mobility
Volkswagen's ID.Vizzion concept from 2018 provided a compelling vision for how autonomous driving technologies could transform vehicle design and the passenger experience. With an aggressively sloping front end and minimalist interior focused on seating five people facing each other, it hinted that self-driving cars may prioritize passenger comfort over driver controls.
Leaning heavily on augmented reality, the dashboard showed information through transparent windshield projections instead of physical displays. This "zero layer" interface approach streamlined distractions for autonomous mode. For times when passengers might drive, a yoke-style steering wheel could emerge from the center console with throttle and brake controls.
At nearly 16 feet long, the ID. Vizzion's size positioned it closer as a luxury limousine than conventional minivan. With an estimated 300 mile all-electric range from its 111 kWh battery, it suggested how self-driving compatibility could open new possibilities for electric vehicles to replace legacy body styles.
Sketched aerodynamic efficiency optimized its form for seamless autonomous highway cruising. Inside, five first-class-like lounge chairs rotated freely to encourage socialization. A panoramic glass roof flood the cabin naturally lit environment.
Through augmented reality, passengers could customize their interior experience by selecting different lighting moods and virtual entertainment displayed on the windshield. With autonomous driving handling urban transportation needs, interior spaciousness prioritized relaxation. A mini-fridge and folding tables hinted at how travel time could transform into rolling offices or dining rooms.
While advancements are still needed for full autonomy, the ID. Vizzion demonstrated how vehicle design may change radically once drivers are removed from the command seat. Its vision for mobility focused less on maneuvering vehicles and more on enhancing passenger well-being during travels. As self-piloting systems mature, concepts like the ID. Vizzion may foreshadow new vehicle categories optimized for comfort and convenience rather than driving dynamics. By reimagining what an autonomous people mover could become, Volkswagen provided a thought-provoking glimpse at how mobility solutions could evolve.