Volkswagen today debuted its I.D. electric concept, which is expected to hit roads in 2020 with a price tag on par with a well-equipped Golf.
"This car is as revolutionary as the Beetle was seven decades ago and the first Golf was 40 years ago, vehicles that went on to become two of the world's most successful cars of all time," the German automaker said. "The I.D. has the potential to make history, too."
As the vehicle name suggests, each driver will be given their own Volkswagen ID, which serves as an individual profile. Users can save settings and contact details, which are accessible using a smartphone so the car knows who is getting behind the wheel.
It also taps into the Internet of Things to connect your car with your life: check home security cameras while on the go, or even receive packages from the road.
"We had the unique opportunity to guide Volkswagen into a new era, and with the I.D. we have taken this opportunity," Klaus Bischoff, head of design at Volkswagen, said in a statement.
The four-door I.D. communicates with its environment using light: LED headlights mimic the human eye, closing when the car is parked and opening again upon startup. VW's designers and engineers, meanwhile, came up with different light scenarios for each operating mode, from charging to autonomous driving.
Its fully automated driving capability—I.D. Pilot—will launch in 2025. Simply press the Volkswagen logo on the steering wheel for three seconds to move from manual to self-driving mode. Deactivate by pressing the brake or accelerator pedals—similar to shutting off cruise control.
Representing the world "the day after tomorrow," the I.D. will cover a distance of 249 to 373 miles on a single battery charge. Using a cable or inductive interface at the front of the car, rapid charging means 80 percent juice in 30 minutes.
With a diesel emissions scandal not fully in its rearview, VW is betting big on electric vehicles. In June, the company announced plans to launch more than 30 "fully electric new vehicles" by 2025, at which point it hopes to be selling a million EVs a year.