Volkswagen has a large presence at this year’s Auto China show in Beijing. The ID.Code concept might be the strangest of all, but not for the reasons you might expect. From the outside, it looks like a fairly simple SUV. The cabin isn’t too radical either, with a typical layout with four swivel seats in a minimalist cockpit. It’s the technology passing through his skin which, frankly, is a little scary.
How else would you describe a system called “3D Eyes” that monitors you as you approach? It’s part of a comprehensive, interactive lighting system that VW envisions as part of an autonomous future. See that long white stripe on the nose between the headlights? It’s called the Light Cloud and consists of 967 LEDs that, among other things, can create U-shaped “eyes” that give the impression of looking in different directions.
It works in conjunction with the bright screen, which is harder to see. That’s because it’s the smiling part of the front, under the Light Cloud, where you’d expect to see a grille. VW uses a clear paint that, when the light display is off, looks like a normal part of the car. When turned on, it can display everything from weather reports to seasonal images like cherry blossoms in spring. If another car stops to allow you to turn left, the screen may show a big heart as a thank you.
We stand by our scary assessment, but if that’s not enough, VW also gives the ID.Code something called Smart Windows. In certain locations on the glass, these windows can display an avatar in the form of a human who can initiate a conversation as you approach. Long story short, we have digital eyes and emojis popping up on the front, plus a floating human head on the side windows that might remind you to wear sunscreen. And we haven’t even talked about the “secret sauce” yet.
61 Pictures
VW says all of these tech features are part of a “secret sauce.” VW designers envision sauce as something intangible, surprising and inspiring, and the technology, as well as the overall design, is part of that. The company says it’s truly about bringing human-like camaraderie and communication into an AI-filled future. This communication is also not reserved for the vehicle owner alone. A multitude of cameras and sensors give the ID.Code Level 4 autonomous functionality, so these so-called external eyes and displays can also facilitate more vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.
Meanwhile, front seat occupants in the SUV cockpit can rotate 180 degrees and chat with people in the back while the car is moving. Or you can have a conversation with the car, or rather, the human avatar appears in augmented reality on the windshield. Presumably, it can multitask while safely maneuvering in traffic.
As for the exterior design, VW believes that this is also part of this special sauce. Described as sleek and jet-like, it’s meant to strike a balance between a functional SUV and that of a sleek grand tourer of yesteryear. Design is subjective, so we’ll let you draw your own conclusions. We see a sleek SUV with a touch of contemporary crossover, but that’s it.
For now, this is strictly a concept vehicle. There’s no mention of the powertrain, range, or anything of a mechanical nature. There is also no mention of possible production plans, although VW is adamant that the ID.Code points to the company’s future in China. Whether features like 3D eyes or human avatars migrate to other parts of the world, we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds.
Volkswagen has a large presence at this year’s Auto China show in Beijing. The ID.Code concept might be the strangest of all, but not for the reasons you might expect. From the outside, it looks like a fairly simple SUV. The cabin isn’t too radical either, with a typical layout with four swivel seats in a minimalist cockpit. It’s the technology passing through his skin which, frankly, is a little scary.
How else would you describe a system called “3D Eyes” that monitors you as you approach? It’s part of a comprehensive, interactive lighting system that VW envisions as part of an autonomous future. See that long white stripe on the nose between the headlights? It’s called the Light Cloud and consists of 967 LEDs that, among other things, can create U-shaped “eyes” that give the impression of looking in different directions.
It works in conjunction with the bright screen, which is harder to see. That’s because it’s the smiling part of the front, under the Light Cloud, where you’d expect to see a grille. VW uses a clear paint that, when the light display is off, looks like a normal part of the car. When turned on, it can display everything from weather reports to seasonal images like cherry blossoms in spring. If another car stops to allow you to turn left, the screen may show a big heart as a thank you.
We stand by our scary assessment, but if that’s not enough, VW also gives the ID.Code something called Smart Windows. In certain locations on the glass, these windows can display an avatar in the form of a human who can initiate a conversation as you approach. Long story short, we have digital eyes and emojis popping up on the front, plus a floating human head on the side windows that might remind you to wear sunscreen. And we haven’t even talked about the “secret sauce” yet.
61 Pictures
VW says all of these tech features are part of a “secret sauce.” VW designers envision sauce as something intangible, surprising and inspiring, and the technology, as well as the overall design, is part of that. The company says it’s truly about bringing human-like camaraderie and communication into an AI-filled future. This communication is also not reserved for the vehicle owner alone. A multitude of cameras and sensors give the ID.Code Level 4 autonomous functionality, so these so-called external eyes and displays can also facilitate more vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.
Meanwhile, front seat occupants in the SUV cockpit can rotate 180 degrees and chat with people in the back while the car is moving. Or you can have a conversation with the car, or rather, the human avatar appears in augmented reality on the windshield. Presumably, it can multitask while safely maneuvering in traffic.
As for the exterior design, VW believes that this is also part of this special sauce. Described as sleek and jet-like, it’s meant to strike a balance between a functional SUV and that of a sleek grand tourer of yesteryear. Design is subjective, so we’ll let you draw your own conclusions. We see a sleek SUV with a touch of contemporary crossover, but that’s it.
For now, this is strictly a concept vehicle. There’s no mention of the powertrain, range, or anything of a mechanical nature. There is also no mention of possible production plans, although VW is adamant that the ID.Code points to the company’s future in China. Whether features like 3D eyes or human avatars migrate to other parts of the world, we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds.