CARS GLOBALMAG October 2016 | Page 79

VOLKSWAGEN I.D. I.D. is a highly automated electric car that will cover a distance of 400 to 600 kilometers on a single battery charge. The production version of the I.D. is due to be launched in 2020. It is the first vehicle to showcase Volkswagen’s iconic new design language for compact electric vehicles. The idea is that anyone who drives a Volkswagen in the future will be given their own Volkswagen ID. The ID is an individual profile, in which the personal seat and air conditioning settings, the favourite radio stations and songs, the configuration of the navigation system, and the type of ambient lighting, as well as the contact details of the driver’s friends and business associates, are saved. This profile can be securely acces- sed via the cloud, enabling the I.D. to recognise the legitimate user by their smartphone. The four-door I.D. is 4,100 mm long and, thus, 155 mm shorter than a Golf. This concept car is 1,800 mm wide and 1,530 mm high. Between the front and rear sections the I.D. has a remarkable wheelbase of 2,750 mm; which is - despite the shorter exterior length 130 mm more than the Golf. Interactive light elements alter the look and feel of the concept car, depending on the mode that the I.D. is in. The I.D. can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 8 seconds from a standing start and has a top speed of 160 km/h. Subsequent production versions could also be offered with more or less powerful electric motors. CGM