VW unveiled a fully autonomous EV concept that lets passengers sleep horizontally — take a look at its sharpest features

Automakers are speeding to develop fully autonomous automobiles, but Volkswagen Group is trying even additional into the long run with its newest concept automotive, the fully electrical Gen.Travel.

The concept automotive would not merely take a look at how Level 5 automation — the place a automotive operates with out human enter — impacts the best way it drives. Gen.Travel can also be designed to check what features might be accessible to passengers as soon as the expertise turns into extra extensively accessible.

Source: Volkswagen Group

Take a look contained in the battery-powered Gen.Travel, which VW says will let passengers sleep horizontally and will pose an alternative choice to short-haul flights sooner or later.

The inside has no steering wheel or controls, which gives many prospects for a way the cabin might be laid out, Klaus Zyciora, the top of Volkswagen Group design, instructed Insider.

“It’s not only the advantage of creating more room around you and offering the ability to sleep. It’s also the idea of having the advantage of not having to take care of the car,” Zyciora mentioned. The automotive has been designed from the “inside out” based mostly on what passengers might need, he added.

The minimalistic modular inside is fully adaptable, relying on the wants of the passengers touring within the Gen.Travel.

If passengers are touring in a single day, a two-seat configuration folds down into two beds measuring 6.5 toes lengthy. Seat belts and airbags are built-in into the cover for security functions, VW mentioned.

The firm mentioned that all HMI (human-machine interface) parts have been produced utilizing sustainable supplies, together with recycled or pure supplies.

Those utilizing the automotive for enterprise have the selection of a four-seat “conference configuration” round a central desk. The car can be configured for households and fitted with augmented actuality to entertain youngsters.

Lighting can be adjusted relying on the temper and purpose for journey.

Despite the heavy deal with the expertise contained in the cabin, VW has additionally given a lot consideration to how the automotive’s exterior might influence the expertise inside. The home windows are designed to provide passengers as a lot of a view as doable no matter the place they’re sitting.

The window edges have been dipped to waist top to allow passengers who’re mendacity down to have the ability to see out, in line with Zyciora. “We even have a window in the ceiling so that if you go through cities you can you can look at the skyscrapers,” he mentioned.

The panoramic windshield can also be a nod to historical past. It was impressed by the Rumpler drop automotive (named after its raindrop form,) which was offered at the German Motor Show in Berlin in 1921.

Zyciora didn’t disclose many particulars in regards to the automotive’s vary or velocity however mentioned that the ultimate vary can be depending on the dimensions of the battery. To journey lengthy distances, any battery needs to be above 100kw hours, Zyciora mentioned.

As it is a concept automotive, the Gen.Travel is unlikely to hit the street with its present design, Zyciora mentioned. It will, nonetheless, be used for research and analysis that might affect future designs.