Chinese automaker Avatr has attended the IAA Munich expo with a striking design study called the Vision Xpectra. Shaped like a cross between a sedan and an SUV, it is whole 5.8 meters (19 feet) long and won’t ever go into production.
The lights and the hood ornament are pretty much all this concept has in common with mass-produced Avatr models. Its massive rear overhang and vast glass top leave no doubt that it’s a show-only vehicle. The load-bearing frame is tiny compared to the transparent dome. The doors have hinges at the opposite sides in a style reminiscent of Rolls-Royce, and there are no b-pillars.
Sized 5,843 x 2,132 x 1,405 mm (228.2 x 83.3 x 54.9 inches) large with a wheelbase of 3,450 mm (134.8 inches), the Vision Xpectra outclasses even the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Despite this, it only has four seats in the cabin. The center console spans both seat rows in a continuous fashion and houses rotary dials for adjusting settings. The steering wheel is weirdly shaped (although Avatr would probably prefer “futuristic”), and all other controls are non-existent. The company argues that the owners will be able to communicate their intentions to the AI in the car using voice and gestures.
All we know right now is that Avatr plans to implement some of the design solutions seen here in its mass-produced vehicles. Co-founded between Changan, Huawei and CATL, the automotive brand plans to launch 17 new models before 2030.
