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Citroen showcases futuristic long-range BEV

Citroen showcases futuristic long-range BEV

Technology News |
By Christoph Hammerschmidt



At the VivaTech technology show in Paris (May 16-19), Citroen is showcasing its concept vehicle named 19_19. The exterior design is inspired by aviation, the interior design by living room furniture – a logical consequence of the fact that people spend increasingly time in the car while automated driving functions allow them to relax.

Despite its living room ambient, the 19_19 is a high-tech vehicle: Driven by a battery-electric powertrain, the car bridges distances up to 800 km without recharging, Citroen says. Within 5 seconds, the 19_19 reaches a speed of 100 kmph; maximum speed is 200 kmph. The battery has a capacity of 100 kwh, giving the two motors a power of 340 kW. Though the wheels are extraordinarily large, which suggests that they might contain a wheel hub drive. However, the two motors are located inside the body, one motor at the front and rear axle.

Thanks to artificial intelligence, the vehicle is capable of autonomous driving. An intuitive, proactive “personal assistant” takes the helm in autonomous driving mode and is connected to the driver and passengers through via an interactive user interface.


Conventional elements of a human machine interface like touchscreens and buttons were deliberately omitted. The personal assistant is activated via voice control, a function developed in partnership with the Silicon Valley-based start-up SoundHound. The control is based on a “Deep Meaning Understanding” technology which, much like humans, is capable of answering different questions simultaneously in the same sentence. When the wizard is activated, a color interface screen displays a graphic in the colors blue, white and red. In order to establish better visual contact with the passengers, phases in which the assistant speaks or “thinks” are accompanied by graphic animations.

A large center screen replaces the usual instrument cluster;
the upright screen in the middle allows users to visually participate
in the thinking processes of the car’s Artificial Intelligence

The missing instrument cluster is striking in the interior. This was replaced by a head-up display on the windscreen. This not only provides the driver with driving information, but also with supplementary information such as indications of deviations, traffic jams or hazards.

The interior can be divided individually with different seating positions. The Citroën 19_19 has ergonomic controls, a head-up display with augmented reality on the windscreen, a cylindrical audio headrest and a backrest reinforcement in the seats to make the journey a pleasure. Passengers in the rear seats can lean their heads against a kind of hammock. In addition, the occupants can retreat into a personalised “sound bubble”. Passengers can listen to their own music or receive messages without disturbing other passengers.

In autonomous driving mode, the steering wheel, pedals and steering column disappear. In order not to be distracted, the driver only has eye contact with the infotainment screen area in this mode.

An eye-catching element is the two lidar sensors mounted at the rooftop that complement the array of sensors enabling the vehicle to drive autonomously; besides the lidars, they include radar and camera sensors.

 

Related articles:

BMW to demo innovative HMI concept at CES

Volkswagen’s ID concept car: Electric and – later – autonomous

Interior system can be adapted to vehicle use cases

Volvo envisions autonomous vehicles as revolutionizing travel

Cockpit concept learns driver’s habits

 

 

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