Volkswagen Unveils the ‘Type 20’ Concept at its Renamed IECC Research Center
Photo: Volkswagen
While its headquarters is in Germany, Volkswagen also has a number of key locations across the United States, including its research center in the heart of Silicon Valley. Formerly known as the Electronics Research Laboratory, the new Innovation and Engineering Center California is the largest VW vehicle research facility outside of the brand’s home country. During the announcement of the newly named location, Volkswagen also debuted the inspiring Type 20 concept.
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Smart interior design
With a similar frame as the classic VW Type 2 van, the Type 20 concept adds more modern touches to its exterior and interior. The visual elements of the Type 20’s design were created by Autodesk, who partnered with VW to make organic shapes appear throughout the concept. The custom wheels, interior support elements, and rearview mirror supports were all created using generative design, meaning the materials maximize strength while minimizing weight.
Innovative technology
The technology inside is where your jaw will drop, though. The cabin features a Looking Glass II holographic display for its infotainment system, creating 3D images without needing any special glasses. A conversational digital assistant is also present in the Type 20 concept. Utilizing directional microphones in three areas of the vehicle, the intelligent speech agent gradually learns speech patterns and can learn more natural voice commands over time. And just as you unlock your smartphone with facial recognition, the Type 20 concept is equipped with similar software to allow biometric vehicle access.
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Environmentally friendly
Following Volkswagen’s “Drive Bigger” campaign, the Type 20 concept features a full BEV (battery electric vehicle) powertrain, which includes a 10 kWh battery, an electric motor, and a 2,500-Watt onboard charger. This powertrain allows the Type 20 to achieve up to 120 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, which is quite respectable for an electric vehicle of this size.
While we won’t be seeing this exact model on dealership lots anytime soon, it’s certainly a good start for Volkswagen’s new approach to move away from its previous reputation.
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