World premiere of the I.D. VIZZION in Geneva: Volkswagen shows the potential of its new range of I.D. The potential of I.D. The I.D. VIZZION1 supports the Volkswagen claim for future individual mobility. Its electric drive system makes the car clean in road traffic, and its automatic driving control will make it safe and much more comfortable. At the same time, this innovative concept car at the Geneva International Motor Show demonstrates how elegant and emotional the design of a vehicle of the future can be. Inside the I.D. VIZZION, a completely new feeling of driving and living is created without a steering wheel or visible controls. The largest model and innovative product campaign in the history of Volkswagen is entering its next stage. After presenting the first all-electric vehicles of the new I.D. Family models , the Volkswagen brand is now showing, for the first time, a concept of an autonomously driving automobile.
Volkswagen is currently advancing the development of modern vehicles in all areas. The goal: to apply innovative technology to making the automobile cleaner, safer and much more convenient and comfortable. With these new qualities, the car will be able to further extend its significance and value for future mobility. Furthermore, use of this car will be made possible for customer groups who cannot drive today, e.g. because of their age. The new I.D. VIZZION concept car is the fourth member of the Volkswagen I.D. Family. With its innovative technology, fully-automated operating concept and elegant form, the premium class MPV is showing the direction Volkswagen is taking in the technology and design of its future electric models. Inside the I.D. VIZZION, engineers have systematically exploited the potentials of autonomous driving. The ‘digital chauffeur' with its many assistance systems assumes control of the vehicle - without a steering wheel or visible controls.
For the ‘driver' and passengers this signifies a new dimension of safety and comfort. The concept car drives, steers and navigates autonomously in traffic, enabling passengers to freely structure their time during the drive. 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 eco-system - and it adapts to each of them individually. The system power of the 5.11 metre long I.D. VIZZION is 225 kW. Its top speed is 180 km/h. The 111 kWh lithium-ion batteries enable a driving range of up to 665 kilometres when braking regeneration is factored in. Based on its intelligent management, the two electric motors cooperate with maximum efficiency and drive all four wheels of the MPV. The I.D. VIZZION clearly demonstrates the great potential of the all-electric architecture from Volkswagen. It is the technological backbone of future Volkswagen electric vehicles, and it enables long driving ranges and maximum space utilisation at optimal costs. By 2025, the brand plans to introduce more than 20 electric vehicle models. Starting in 2020, the I.D.2 will launch as an electric car in the compact class; this will be followed, at short intervals, by a new electric SUV - the I.D. CROZZ3 - and the I.D. BUZZ4 which is a spacious MPV. Labels: Concept electric I.D.
Text from The Age. Volkswagen Group Australia has moved to prevent the popular Golf GTI becoming a victim of its own success. The company announced at the recent Passat launch that its backlog of some 800 hot hatch customers will be cleared by June, following an agreement with the factory to increase production for Australia. VGA managing director Jutta Dierks. But as we speak today, we have an agreement with headquarters that all these 800 cars are going into production as quickly as possible. It's spoken a bit for the brand that people waited so long for the car. But I think we should not over-extend the patience of our customers. It has stretched the friendship. There has been a lot of heat from customers. Ms Dierks added that VGA has also reached agreement with the factory to increase production throughout July and beyond, to ensure that Golf GTI supplies remain consistent thereafter.
The 1996 original Audi A3 in effect founded the European ‘compact premium’ hatchback segment — one that Mercedes, BMW, Volvo and Lexus would subsequently enter. Like the new version, the Audi A3 shared its platform with the Volkswagen Golf and was internally considered as a successor to the 1974 Audi 50 three-door. The car dominated the class it spawned, blowing even the original BMW 1-series into the weeds. As it stands, after two generations, it accounts for every fifth Audi registered worldwide. Audi’s all-new A3 is one of those cars that you’ll recognise only after a good, long, close-quarters stare. Once you know what you’re looking at, its conservative distinctiveness begins to filter through. But like so many of this brand’s recent ‘Russian doll’ relaunches, this is a ‘new Audi’ with the emphasis on the latter part of that concept. Few would believe that it represents little short of a revolution in compact car design and manufacture. After years of development, the A3 is the first model to adopt group technical supremo Ulrich Hackenberg’s ‘secret weapon’. Ahead of the seventh-generation VW Golf and the third-gen Seat Leon, both of which are waiting in the wings, the A3 comes to market as the very first fruit of VW’s ‘MQB’ platform. That single fact has a far-reaching influence on the car - from the way it has been designed and specified to the way it’s actually built. But because you’re an Autocar reader, the most important question you’ll be considering is this: does VW’s platform revolution make a very competent but dull car any more compelling to drive? Prepare to find out.
