Mauricio Ruiz is a writer and journalist who has lived in the US, Belgium, Mexico and Norway. His work has appeared in Words Without Borders, Catapult, The Common, The Rumpus, Electric Literature, JMWW, River Teeth, Literal Magazine, among others. He’s been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and Myriad Editions Competition in the UK, as well as the Fish Short Story Prize in Ireland. He has received fellowships from OMI writers (NY), Société des auteurs (Belgium), Jakob Sande (Norway), Can Serrat (Spain), and the Three Seas’ Council (Rhodes). His second book, Silencios al sur, was published in early 2017, and his work has partially been translated into Dutch and French. Mauricio Ruiz can be followed on Twitter and Instagram .

On September 24th, Volkswagen revealed a prototype of its all-electric powered Innovation Experience Vehicle (IEV) at the Chantilly Arts & Elegance auto show near Paris. The IEV is a core element of the German company’s Gen.Travel concept, which the Volkswagen Group has developed an iconic, innovation-packed study that constitutes a completely new vehicle category in the premium portfolio between sedan and MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle).

The all-electric powered IEV is a real prototype that drives autonomously (Level 5) and gives a realistic outlook for the mobility of the coming decade. The car’s modular interior concept makes it a flexible, sustainable Mobility-as-a-Service alternative to short-haul flights.

We can already experience what will be possible in the future with innovative technology. Door-to-door travel at a new level. Emission-free and stress-free.

As a research vehicle, the purpose of the Gen.Travel is to test the concept and new functionalities for customer response. Based on the study results, individual features may later be transferred to series vehicles. The Gen.Travel drives autonomously and turns the driver into a relaxed passenger who has time for other things: Work. Relaxation. Entertainment. Family

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.

Dynamic lighting creates a pleasant working environment and avoids the danger of kinetosis (motion sickness). A configuration in the overnight-setup allows the conversion of two seats into two beds that can be folded out to a full-flat position.

In an age of technical perfection and virtually unlimited possibilities, ‘form follows function’ becomes ‘form follows freedom’

An innovative passenger restraint system ensures maximum safety even in a lying position. The Gen.Travel lighting system influences melatonin production to help passengers fall asleep and wake up naturally. For family trips, the Gen.Travel with front seats can be configured to entertain the children using augmented reality (AR). The interior is light, with a natural design. All HMI (human-machine interface) elements are produced using sustainable materials, combined with recycled or natural materials.

The futuristic exterior of the Gen.Travel is divided into two parts: The transparent, glass cabin is perfectly incorporated into the lower section, which houses all the technical features. The edge of the window is at waist level, making it very low so as to maximize the view of the outside. At the same time, when passengers are lying down flat in the car, they do not experience any external influences. The wing doors of the Gen.Travel facilitate better entry and exit.

For maximum comfort, the Gen.Travel has the active suspension eABC (electric Active Body Control) that calculates vertical and lateral movements such as acceleration, braking, or cornering ahead of time, and optimizes the driving style and trajectory accordingly. Artificial intelligence (AI) and platooning, fully autonomous driving in convoys, are used to further increase the range for long-distance journeys.