Volkswagen has unveiled their GEN.TRAVEL vehicle, a concept that slots into a future where autonomous cars replace short-haul flights.
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The design of the car—particularly the interior—was driven by the fact that the car would not be privately owned, but for-hire:
“The GEN.TRAVEL has a unique, modular interior concept that can be customized for each journey and booked as a Mobility-as-a-Service offering. Depending on the configuration, up to four people can be transported in the concept vehicle.”
“For business trips, the conference setup with four comfortable seats and a large table in the middle of the interior provides relaxed surroundings. Dynamic lighting creates a pleasant working environment and avoids the danger of kinetosis (motion sickness).”
“A configuration in the overnight-setup allows the conversion of two seats into two beds that can be folded out to a full-flat position.”
The windscreen is practically vertical, and was presumably designed this way so that it can serve as a screen for the occupants.
As the gullwing doors open, the rocker panel folds down to become a step, easing access.
The very strange beltline, the company says, is intentional and meant to serve two purposes:
“The edge of the window is at waist level, making it very low so as to maximize the view of the outside. At the same time, when passengers are lying down flat in the car, they do not experience any external influences.”
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Volkswagen says they’re using the GEN.TRAVEL to gauge customer response, with the possibility of bringing some of the design features into production vehicles.
Source: core77