Electric cars are already a treasure trove of new and exciting technology, but this new concept car from VW takes it to a whole new level As such, it includes flashy features like a video game console and projector

Unveiled at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, VWLIFE presents VW's "Accelerate" strategy to make sustainable vehicles more accessible by 2025 and is part of the company's mission to launch more electric vehicles

IDLIFE is a preview of the next generation of ID cars that will be introduced in the small car segment in the near future However, since this is a concept, the car will probably look quite different Nevertheless, this is a vision of the future of EVs

Since the Accelerate strategy emphasizes sustainability, it is not surprising that the body of the IDLIFE will be composed of sustainable and recycled materials These include wood, recycled plastic bottles, bio-oil, natural rubber, and tires mixed with rice husks

However, what the electric vehicle industry has shown over the past decade is that taking a more sustainable and environmentally conscious approach does not mean sacrificing performance To that end, the IDLIFE has a 57 kWh battery inside that gives it a WLTP range of approximately 249 miles, and when connected to a DC fast charger, it can recover 101 miles in just 10 minutes

As for the engine, it is powered by a 172 kW (approx 230 hp) electric motor that can reach 62 mph in 62 seconds The top speed is 112 mph (about 157 km/h) The car is also front-wheel drive and, according to VW, is the first car based on the Modular Electric Vehicle Drive Matrix (MEB)

None of this is particularly groundbreaking, but that is not the point of IDLIFE These specs are what one would expect from a car that is used only for daily driving, not long distance driving Thankfully, the IDLIFE has 453 cubic feet of storage space While this is not SUV-level cargo space, it still fills up quite a lot of space

Where the IDLIFE really shines, however, is thanks to the technology inside the cabin

You'll notice that the IDLIFE has no wing mirrors, as VW has replaced all interior and exterior mirrors with a camera system Also, the Tesla-style yoke steering wheel has a touchpad for controlling various in-car functions

Above that is a retractable projector screen that emerges from the dash panel and allows the driver to play on the car's built-in game console This is also a fairly massive screen, covering almost the entire windshield

The seats in the interior are also made to accommodate this screen, and can optionally be folded completely flat so that one can sit and enjoy what is projected on the screen Or they can be used as a bed, something you would never need if you were just driving from A to B

Sadly, production cars inspired by IDLIFE will most likely not have these features Especially given that VW is aiming to make this car an entry-level vehicle That is more important than any technology or flashy design feature that Volkswagen could show off at a motor show, though

The IDLIFE represents VW's commitment to making electric cars more affordable; VW has promised a starting price of just 20,000 euros when the car's production model is launched This translates to $23,758 today, making it a very inexpensive car

For reference, the cheapest electric car sold in the US is the 2022 Nissan Leaf, which starts at just $27,400; VW's ID3 is currently the cheapest EV, not launched in the US, but available in Europe from €35,460 In other words, VW is very invested in lowering the price of entry

However, it is worth remembering that being a concept and keeping in mind its low price point, the production model will look very different Sadly, it is not known how different, and we will have to wait until 2025 for this car to hit the road