Volkswagen Type 20: the electric van concept that brings together modern and old-school

On the occasion of 20 years of Volkswagen's founding of the Electronic Research Laboratory (ERL) in Belmont, Silicon Valley, the brand officially unveiled a prototype, the Type 20, from an old Type 2 model from 1962.

A modernization nod to the nostalgic

During its presentation, the Type 20 was able to recall many memories to the nostalgic of the brand, although Volkswagen has decided to implement a battery of 10kW have so far resided the four-cylinder flat engine of the famous Type 2 of 1962. 

Type 20 has 120 horses and 235 Nm of torque, unlike its predecessor who developed only 42 horses.

In terms of exterior design, the concept remains true to its big brother, does not change the codes of the model and remains all around. The brand has however reviewed some aesthetic details such as rims or mirrors. For the former, the firm, in partnership with Autodesk, subjected to artificial intelligence a lot of data such as the size of the wheels, the location of the nuts, the weight or the energy supported. The AI ​​finally managed to create more than 200 different designs, two of which were chosen by the team and reported on the front and rear tires, depending on the characteristics defined.

It finally shows a strange design, similar to an orange spider web, for the model presented.

Inside, the same observation as Volkswagen chose to keep the soul of Type 2 while maintaining the same dashboard, except that the company installed a touch screen instead of the old analog meter and a projected logo of the research center, instead of the car radio. 

To add a little more to the memory, the firm associated with this icon of a free spirit, two electric skateboards in the back, recharged by the car when driving, and a door opening with facial recognition. Despite this technology, the opening is made by means of locks and handles similar to the original model. 

Volkswagen Type 20 is a concept that reminds us that the brand does not intend to change its good habits but decided to settle in the electric era, and that serves as an excellent introduction pending the future Volkswagen ID.3 which will be presented shortly at the Frankfurt Motor Show.