We have some exciting news to share as a new era of innovation begins for Volkswagen in America. About two decades ago, the Volkswagen Group opened a three-person office in Silicon Valley, looking to tap the region’s burgeoning tech scene for new transportation breakthroughs. Today, that office includes more than 180 engineers, designers, researchers and social scientists – the largest such office outside Germany.
Last month, Volkswagen announced a new name and increased responsibility for the Silicon Valley location: the Innovation and Engineering Center California. In efforts to demonstrate how it will integrate the best of Volkswagen’s history as the company moves towards an electric future, the location revealed a stunning electric-powered test vehicle called the Type 20 Concept.
“The future of the Volkswagen Group will be defined by our success in developing new technology that is designed to meet our customers’ needs,” said Scott Keogh, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “As we roll out the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles, innovation will increasingly define who we are.”
The History
The former Electronics and Research Laboratory has a long history of applying advanced technology to vehicles. In 2005, the lab’s “Stanley” robotic research vehicle won the DARPA Grand Challenge, navigating 132 miles of desert without a human driver or intervention. Other tech developed at the center, like predictive navigation and speech controls, have been deployed in Volkswagen Group models around the world.
The Type 20 Concept links the Volkswagen’s history and its future together. Built by a team of 25 in less than six months from the foundation of a 1962 Type 2 11-window Microbus, the Type 20 has been converted to run on a 120-hp electric motor, powered by a 10-kW battery pack – both of which are sized to fit in the tight confines of the original bus powertrain.
Key Design Features
Although the Type 20 Concept stays true to most of the design aspects of the original Type 2, the designers and engineers wanted to create a rolling advertisement for the future of automotive technology.
“When we first envisioned this project, we wanted to build something that would make a young kid want to become an automotive engineer or an automotive designer when they grow up,” said Erik Glaser, principal product designer at the IECC. “It’s the perfect representation of what we do here – it’s part German, it’s part Californian, and it puts technology first, but with a really emotional story behind it.”
The first hint of the Type 20’s real character comes from the alienesque wheels and rearview-mirror supports. These aspects, the steering wheel, and the seat supports in the interior, were all created using “generative design” – a computing process that mimics evolution to create natural-seeming shapes that maximize strength while minimizing weight.
Don’t think the headlights and VW logo are lit just by LEDs. These illuminations are part of a futuristic digital assistant powered by an intelligent speech agent built from existing Volkswagen Group technology. Microphones and cameras both inside and outside the Type 20 can use facial recognition and natural-language commands to let users access the vehicle, and respond with light.
Looking inside, the Type 20 features a full custom interior and a Looking Glass II holographic display integrated into the dashboard, generating 3D images without the need for specialized glasses. Talk about trippy!
“The bus was put together as a way to celebrate our 20 year existence as a lab,” said Nathaniel Coser, senior staff engineer. “It’s a combination of our heritage and our future.”
If you’re interested in getting into a Volkswagen that has current technology, including Active Blind Spot Monitoring, Adaptive Cruise Control, VW Car-Net® Security & Service, Lane Assist, Rear Traffic Alert and more, visit ReedHasIt.com.
*Concept vehicle shown. Not available for sale. Modifying vehicles can adversely affect warranty coverage & compliance with required safety & other standards.
