Volkswagen took advantage of the Chantilly Concours d’Elegance to unveil its Gen.Travel, an autonomous minivan concept showing the vision of the future of mobility for the entire group.
Today, all manufacturers are turning to electrification. And it’s quite logical, since the European Commission voted to ban the sale of internal combustion cars from 2035. A measure that is part of a more global desire to reduce polluting emissions. And in addition to internal combustion cars, planes are also in the line of fire. In France, for example, the Senate voted last year to ban domestic flights when an alternative by train of less than 2h30 exists.
A 100% autonomous vehicle
But, rail is not always a solution. It is in particular to counter this problem that Volkswagen has just unveiled its latest concept, called Gen.Travel. Made official during the Chantilly Concours d’Élégance this Sunday, it takes the form of a large minivan with confusing lines. And if it doesn’t feature any brand logo, it’s because it was developed at group level, thus announcing the future of mobility for the latter, for all the manufacturers who are part of it. A sort of manifesto for tomorrow, this is reminiscent of the Renault EZ-Ultimo concept, unveiled in 2018 during the Paris Motor Show.
Halfway between a sedan and a minivan, this concept is equipped with level 5 100% autonomous driving technology, the most advanced. It is therefore not tomorrow that we will be able to take advantage of it, while only level 3 has been authorized on our French roads since September 1st.
But the objective of this Gen.Travel is not to drive right away, since it was created in particular to show the brand’s customers what the mobility of tomorrow will look like. Based on public feedback, certain characteristics can then be integrated into production vehiclesas explained in the brand’s press release.
A futuristic alternative
As Volkswagen explains, this concept could also be an alternative to short-haul flights in the future. This thanks to a vast interior space, which then makes it possible to accommodate up to four people in a modular cabin. The seats can be arranged around a table for a conference or be transformed into beds for overnight journeys. The lighting system has been designed to minimize motion sickness and promote sleepiness during long journeys. Passengers, especially children, can take advantage of augmented reality for entertainment.
If the concept does not detail its engine, we know that it is obviously 100% electric. To ensure optimal comfort, the latter is equipped with an active electric suspension system capable of anticipating the movements of the vehicle. Artificial intelligence, combined with a platoon system, also makes it possible to create convoys of autonomous vehicles. Note that all the elements present in the passenger compartment of this concept are made with sustainable materials, based on recycled or natural materials.
To follow us, we invite you to download our Android and iOS application. You can read our articles, files, and watch our latest YouTube videos.