The ID. CODE made its world debut at Auto China 2024, showcasing Volkswagen‘s new design language for future models and marking the beginning of a new era in technology. Specifically tailored for the Chinese market, this concept car features powerful, sleek, and dynamic surfaces reminiscent of a Gran Turismo.
The exterior of the car serves as a canvas for cutting-edge AI-assisted lighting and display systems. Inside the ID. CODE, a newly designed living space merges the real and virtual worlds to offer a unique mobility experience. This electric concept car can be driven manually or in Level 4 autonomous mode.
The ID. CODE exhibits an impressive stability on the road, thanks to the combination of its sleek and sporty cabin for an SUV, along with its powerful wheel housings. These wheel housings not only provide a clean design that frames the door surfaces, but they also serve as a dominant design theme in themselves. Furthermore, the ID. CODE reinterprets the iconic C-pillars of the first Golf by incorporating them as D-pillars, creating a visual impression of added stability, solidity, and sportiness.
The ID. CODE exudes a distinguished likeability, effectively conveying its high-tech features and superior qualities with a smile. This likeable charisma is achieved through the meticulously crafted shapes that adhere to the golden ratio of the body, as well as the friendly appearance of the front end. The theme of friendliness is further enhanced by the interactive lighting systems, which give the ID. CODE, painted in Horizon blue, a human-like presence.
The ID. CODE has been meticulously designed to enable fully automated driving at Level 4. Once the driver activates the autonomous mode, they relinquish control and assume the role of a passenger, free to engage in activities such as reading, chatting, going online, or enjoying movies. Volkswagen has incorporated state-of-the-art sensor, light, camera, and screen systems to facilitate the implementation of this autopilot function. These advanced systems enable seamless communication with the surrounding environment. To power both the systems and the drive, Volkswagen has not only utilized a lithium-ion battery but also integrated a photovoltaic system into the transparent ‘energy roof’.
The ID. CODE concept car unveiled in Beijing is not just autonomous, but also the first Volkswagen vehicle to communicate with its surroundings through its exterior. It acts as a digital avatar, reacting to other road users and providing information to its owners. Equipped with an intelligent lighting system called Light Cloud, it features interactive 3D Eyes and an LED screen in the front. These systems activate when the driver approaches, providing a welcome scenario. Additionally, the ID. CODE gives the current weather forecast for the next two hours and enhances safety by interacting with other road users in Level 4 autonomous driving mode.
The automobile as a representation – the ideal co-pilot. In addition to this advancement, Smart Windows with semi-transparent displays have been newly developed and integrated into the side window surfaces. Upon the driver’s approach, an AI-supported avatar emerges on the displays of the respective front side window. This avatar offers the driver essential information directly and prompts them to bring an umbrella if rain is expected, for instance. The same avatar is also utilized in the interior – acting as the perfect co-pilot, it aids the driver and supplies passengers with various information.
The interior of the new ID. CODE offers a versatile lounge with online connectivity, enhancing the travel experience with top-quality materials, premium sound, ambient lighting, and air conditioning. The infotainment system and user interface have been revamped, and the avatar seen on the exterior now accompanies passengers inside. Seats can be adjusted for different driving modes, and during Level 4 autonomous driving, the steering wheel retracts to create more space for front seats to swivel 180 degrees. The interior can also be transformed into a mobile living space for longer journeys.