We start with a comment from KW automotive founder Klaus Wohlfarth. No matter if cars are petrol-powered, electric-powered, are going to drive autonomously or may even fly, they are always going to need suspension.
New reality. And he has a point there. When he told us that, there was no sign of acquiring BBS yet. Today, the BBS brand also belongs to the KW automotive Group and his statement holds up because cars will always need wheels too. Other suppliers of Aftermarket products will have to start adapting their range of products to the new reality at an earlier stage. Consider, for example, manufacturers of exhausts and sports air filters. Because putting an exhaust on an electric car is a stupid as giving rollerskates to Joe Biden.
Judy Jetson. But although life sometimes seems to rush by, the world does not spin that fast at all. Evolution has always been there, because without it you would still be craving bananas and lice off your girlfriend’s hairy back. It will be some time before the world moves away from fossil fuels, and it will be some time before we can all sit back in an autonomous car. As for taking selfies from inside a flying car, today this is still mainly a reality for Judy from the Jetsons family.
Less annoyed. This doesn’t mean that car manufacturers, OEM suppliers and Aftermarket companies are leaning over backwards. Most companies that are up to speed know perfectly well how a next generation will be on the move. No doubt, then, there will still be a lot of idiots on the road, but we may be less annoyed by those. After all, in an autonomous car, the “driver” can again text with a clear conscience, make a video of what is happening on the other side of the window, etc.
Money saved. Whether we will soon all be doing that in a Volkswagen Group Gen.Travel is highly doubtful. Because it is exactly what you might expect from a concept: looks nice, looks practical, looks futuristic, in short, the classic ingredients of a concept. Throw in a set of gull-wing doors, and voila, you’ve secured another spot in the automotive press. And as a company, you immediately save yourself another expensive advertising campaign…
Escalator. Strangely, we don’t see the typical VW logo appearing anywhere, and this is indeed a Volkswagen Group concept, which basically means they can still go either way with it. Maybe this is the new Bugatti SUV, or there might be a Skoda badge on it. In either case, we’re sure this version could still serve perfectly as a large greenhouse some 50 years from now. It’s been since our ride in a glass escalator that we had such a sense of space.
Window tinting. The Gen.Travel drives autonomously and turns the driver into a relaxed passenger who has time for other things: Work. Relaxation. Entertainment. Family. Chess. Snooker. Darts. Gardening. Etc. The Gen.Travel has a unique, modular interior concept that can be customized for each journey and booked as a Mobility-as-a-Service offering. Depending on the configuration, up to four people can be transported in the concept vehicle. For business trips, the conference setup with four comfortable seats and a large table in the middle of the interior provides relaxed surroundings. With the exception if you drive downtown, then we suggest you tint those windows.
Flight attendant. The Volkswagen Group Gen.Travel is motivated by an 8.0-liter 16-cylinder powerplant. This beast of an engine employs four turbochargers to generate a mighty 1500 horsepower. The Gen.travel makes the dash from zero to 60 mph in a mere 2.3 seconds, and it has a top speed of 420 km/h. Let’s be honest, wouldn’t it be cool if this was really the case? And wouldn’t it be cool if it would do that with a Skoda badge? And would it be cool should each Gen.Travel have its own stewardess? You see, if manufacturers claim the right to take us into their fantasy world, why shouldn’t we be allowed to do the same?