Kumbi-M on Cars

By Joseph Mashele

International news: At the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas: Volkswagen Group of America unveiled its first fully electric vehicle.

It was covered in clever camouflage, which makes use of cutting-edge engineering and multiple layers of paint to produce light effects on different portions of the vehicle. This interactive element represents the newest development in the ID. family's upcoming flagship model's digitalization. The new model, which has an aerodynamic design idea and has a range of up to 700 kilometres (WLTP), was previewed by the ID. AERO concept car, which was first displayed in China. The largest electronics trade show in the world, CES, welcomed back Volkswagen Group of America with a very special product after a six-year hiatus.

A new climate and comfort experience is provided by the ID.7

With its latest model based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), VW has responded to customer feedback and improved the user experience in the relevant areas. A host of innovations come as standard in the ID.7:

• the new display concept
• the augmented reality head-up display
• a 38-centimeter (15-inch) screen
• new air conditioning controls integrated into the first level of the infotainment system
• illuminated touch sliders

The innovative air conditioning design with clever vents has several features. For instance, the ID.7 can recognise an approaching driver based on their key and will begin to cool or heat the interior of the car before the driver even enters the vehicle on a hot summer day. Newly created "Smart Air Vents" regulate airflow and move dynamically to quickly disperse air over wide surfaces. If there are passengers in the vehicle, the air can either be sent directly to the body or used to indirectly ventilate the interior. These features can be activated and saved separately for each user and are always available on the new huge display. Voice commands can be used to trigger special requests. The steering wheel heating feature is activated by the ID.7 in response to the user saying, "Hello Volkswagen, my hands are cold!" The hands are also exposed to heated air at the same time.

The camouflaged car has a digital design and distinctive painting that interactively illuminates the ID.7. There have been 40 layers of paint applied, some of which are conductive and others of which are insulating. 22 different regions of the car can be independently controlled and are illuminated by an electrified layer beneath the top coat of paint (electroluminescence). If any of this is coupled with a sound system, the beat is made visible through the illumination of specific spaces.

An interaction between the real and virtual worlds is offered by the QR codes on the hood and both sides. The complete camouflage also advances the QR code idea and obscures the final production vehicle's outlines.

Volkswagen's successful completely electric ID. family is being expanded with the ID.7 sedan into the upper middle class of the high-volume category, and the ACCELERATE approach is being used to advance the electric mobility campaign. Volkswagen has already achieved a first milestone: Since the first ID.3 models were delivered to customers in September 2020, Volkswagen has delivered 500,000 vehicles from its ID. family globally through its subsidiaries – roughly one year earlier than planned and in spite of the ongoing supply chain challenges.

The ID.7 will be the sixth model from the ID. family, following the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.6 (only in China), and the new ID. Buzz, and is Volkswagen's second global vehicle to be based on the MEB after the ID.4. The electric sedan will be introduced in the three key markets of China, Europe, and North America. The Volkswagen Emden plant will manufacture the ID.7 for the European market. It will be the second model based on the modular electric drive matrix to be constructed in Emden after the ID.4.

The values for consumption and CO2 emissions depend on the chosen vehicle equipment where ranges are specified.