With its over-the-top design, long-range battery-electric drive and digital technologies that include an augmented-reality touchscreen appearing to float in space, the Space Vizzion show car might seem to have rolled off the set of a nearby movie studio. But VW insists it's more than a sci-fi fantasy. The automaker says a production version will come to market "in late 2021."
Key elements of the exterior will also show up in production, many of them designed to enhance the Space Vizzion's aerodynamics. Cutting wind drag is critical to enhance range – while also helping cut wind noise and improve performance. Up front, VW designers took a cue from Tesla, essentially eliminating the concept vehicle's grille. There is a small opening for air to flow in from between the headlamps and them pop up and then rush across the hood.
Additionally, says a VW news release, "All information, entertainment, comfort, online functions, and vehicle settings are grouped together on a 15.6-inch touchscreen which appears to hover in mid-air." Even seemingly mundane things like the shifter have been redesigned in Space Vizzion. Here, the driver uses a small switch on the side of the steering column to go from Park to Drive to Neutral and Reverse.