ID. Aura, ID. Era and ID. Evo: Volkswagen presented three concept cars in Shanghai
At the Auto Shanghai Motor Show, Volkswagen together with its Chinese partners presented three new concept cars: ID. Aura (FAW-Volkswagen), ID. Era (from SAIC Volkswagen) and ID. Evo (Volkswagen Anhui). These cars represent a new generation of smart electric vehicles and demonstrate the future of the brand's product strategy.
Here's What We Know
All three concepts belong to the category of "new energy vehicles" (NEVs), which in China includes both all-electric vehicles and models with plug-in hybrid powertrains and range extenders.
Future production versions of all three concept cars will be equipped with artificial intelligence-based autonomous driving systems. From 2026, they will be able to reach automation level 2++: in certain conditions, the cars will be able to overtake, turn and realign completely independently - with driver control.
"We have gained 'Chinese speed' with our new development centre in Hefei. Our goal is to develop our models in a maximum of 34 months. We will launch the right models at the right speed and with the right partners," emphasised Stefan Mecha, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand in China.
Concept Cars Review:
ID. SAIC Volkswagen's ERA (pictured above) is a full-size SUV with three rows of seats, giving a glimpse of the first production vehicle in Volkswagen's range with extended range. The internal combustion engine is used as a generator to recharge the battery while driving, providing an extra mileage of over 700 kilometres. Combined with the 300 kilometres that can be travelled on the battery, the total driving range is more than 1,000 kilometres.
ID. EVO from Volkswagen Anhui is an electric SUV aimed at young buyers with an active lifestyle. It is built on an 800-volt platform and is the first full-size electric car in the ID family. UNYX. The concept supports frequent over-the-air software updates and personalised features.
ID. FAW-Volkswagen's AURA is the first concept car on the new Compact Main Platform (CMP) created specifically for the Chinese market. The electric sedan with a sloping roof is aimed at buyers in the budget A-segment. The CMP platform with zonal architecture and high computing power enables advanced autonomous driving functions. In the centre console of the car is a multimedia system with a smartphone-like interface, while an integrated AI assistant with a "human character" allows control of the car's electronic functions and entertainment system.
Source: Volkswagen
