Geneva Motor Show: Volkswagen presents I.D. Vizzion autonomous, electric concept car with onboard AI

German carmaker Volkswagen is making waves in Geneva, Switzerland, with the world premiere of its new concept car, the I.D. Vizzion. This autonomous and electric sedan will be on show at the Geneva Motor Show until March 18.

The I.D. Vizzion brings a new flagship EV to the I.D. family of concept vehicles, representing Volkswagen's approach to innovative electronic and environmentally conscious mobility for almost two years.

It is one of the first concept cars to incorporate the idea of putting artificial intelligence to use in the automotive industry. In the future, this technology will allow the vehicle to analyse and interpret the many types of situations encountered on the road. According to Volkswagen, several stages will be required to make these technologies fully functional and effective.

Indeed, the I.D. Vizzion already uses facial recognition to prevent unauthorised users from taking the controls (gestures and voice commands). Moreover, level-five autonomous driving, for fully driverless mobility, allows each passenger to make full use of their time onboard. The I.D. Vizzion "open space" interior proposes a customisable cabin, ensuring the wellbeing of all vehicle passengers, whether for relaxing, entertainment or working.

The I.D. Vizzion is powered by two electric motors with a total power of 225kW (maximum speed is capped at 180km/h). It offers up to 665km range. Volkswagen expects to develop the I.D. Vizzion into a commercial model by 2022. Still, this electric sedan will be a conventional car to drive, although connected and with innovative driver-assistance systems. A fully or partially autonomous model could follow by 2030.

Volkswagen presented the I.D. – its first long-range fully electric concept car (it has a range of almost 600 km) – at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. This original model stood out with its exterior design and its spacious "lounge"-style interior. Since then, three other models in the I.D. family have been unveiled: the I.D. Crozz SUV, the I.D. Buzz microbus and now the I.D. Vizzion sedan.