Volkswagen ID.4 Interior Balances Physical Controls With High-Tech Lighting
Volkswagen releases teaser images of the ID.4 electric SUV interior, showcasing a blend of touchscreens, ambient lighting, and traditional physical controls. The vehicle represents a major step in the automaker's multi-billion dollar electric mobility strategy.
Newly released teaser images of Volkswagen's upcoming all-electric ID.4 compact SUV reveal an interior that combines modern tech like touchscreens and ambient lighting with traditional physical toggles and knobs. The design appears to strike a careful balance between stark minimalism and a cluttered array of controls, avoiding the pitfalls of either extreme. The full details of the ID.4 remain under wraps until the end of the month, but these early images provide the first glimpse at the cabin's layout and operation.
The stakes are high for Volkswagen as the ID.4 plays a central role in the company's plan to invest €11 billion ($13 billion) in electric mobility by 2024. This compact SUV is the second electric vehicle to use Volkswagen's MEB platform, a flexible modular system designed to make EV production more efficient and cost-effective. Furthermore, the ID.4 holds the distinction of being the first ID-badged vehicle destined for the North American market, following the Europe-only ID.3.
Inside the cabin, Volkswagen takes advantage of the extra space provided by the electric platform by featuring two digital screens and a notably raised center console that keeps the driver's gaze level. While the vehicle embraces digital interfaces, it retains physical buttons for driver assistance systems, volume control, and voice commands on the steering wheel. The automaker also highlights ID. Light, an ambient light strip below the windscreen that communicates with the driver by signaling when the drive system is active.