Fans help design next VW wave
2012-05-03 08:05
BEETLE BECOMES A MUSIC CHAMELEON: The Music Car concept at the 2012 Beijing auto show changes colour based on the driver's choice of music.
Volkswagen’s “People’s Car Project” has attracted more than 119 000 ideas in the 11 months since its launch. Three of the concepts created by fans went on show at the 2012 Beijing auto show.
Of the 33-million visitors to the People’s Car Project (PCP) website, 119 000 submitted ideas via the online platform for development by VW. The concepts – Hover Car, Music Car and the Smart Key – are on display at the show.
The Hover Car is an environmentally friendly two-seater city car intended to hover just above the ground on electromagnetic road networks.
'NEW DESIGN ERA'
The Music Car, however, is equipped with organic LED's that alter the exterior colour of the vehicle depending on the driver’s choice of music. This car is also seen as a vehicular fashion statement for young drivers.
The Smart Key, the last of the concepts developed for Beijing, encapsulates the current trend of taking current online technologies into the car. The key has a high-resolution touchscreen that enables the driver to monitor the weather, the car’s fuel situation and the its security through a 3G network. The driver can also monitor the car from a bird’s-eye view using live satellite images.
Luca de Meo, director of marketing for the VW Group and VW car brands, said: “The ‘People’s Car Project’ in China is the beginning of an era in automobile design. We are no longer just building cars for, but also with, customers. The findings of the ‘People‘s Car Project’, in a long-term context, will influence VW's product strategy."
For more from the 2012 Beijing auto show, click here.
