The first results of the Volkswagen 'People's Car Project' in China have been translated into two concept vehicles. The 'Hover Car' and 'Music and Motion' design studies are on display at Auto China 2012 in Beijing.
Thirty three million visitors to the project web site lead to 119,000 ideas being submitted over the last eleven months.
As its name suggests the Hover Car floats just above the ground. It is a two-seat city car designed to run on electromagnetic road networks. One of the outcomes of the People's Car Project was a demand for safe cars that can easily navigate crowded roads.
Many Chinese customers expressed a desire for individual automotive design. The Music Car is equipped with organic light emitting diodes that change the colour of the vehicle in response to the driver's choice of music.
Another outcome of the project was the 'Smart Key'. The 9mm key incorporates a high-resolution touch screen. Information on fuel, climate conditions and vehicle security are relayed via the 3G network.
The People's Car Project was intended to be a one-year exercise but, due to its popularity, has now been extended indefinitely. A new project phase will allow users to submit suggestions about the environment as well as design, personalisation and connectivity. Draft proposals will be evaluated by the user community before going to a panel of experts.
Volkswagen Group's Director of Marketing said that the findings from the project will influence the Group's product strategy while reflecting the brand's tradition.