Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • PUBLICIS SAPIENT: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automakers
March 05, 2021 12:10 PM

VW teases electric flagship showing a sleek four-door fastback

Production car will bring highly automated driving to the mass-market

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    VW Trinity sketch

    VW's sketch of the Trinity indicates a sleek four-door fastback.

    Volkswagen brand revealed a first design sketch of its Trinity flagship full-electric sedan, a model it claims will set new benchmarks in terms of range, charging speed and automated driving.

    The silhouette indicates a sleek four-door fastback that could slot in beneath the Aero midsize electric sedan that is scheduled to launch in 2023.

    "Trinity is a crystallization point for our ACCELERATE strategy, a lighthouse project, our software dream car,” VW brand CEO Ralf Brandstaetter, said in a statement.

    VW says the production Trinity will play a crucial role in bringing highly automated driving to the mass-market.

    By the planned start of series production in 2026, Trinity will be technically ready for Level 4 "mind-off" self-driving applications, which means that the driver can hand over all driving functions to the onboard computer.

    Brandstaetter announced the flagship electric sedan in January, saying the working title "Project Trinity" symbolizes VW's goal of achieving three leaps in innovation.

    The  EV will be based on a new electric architecture that focuses on artificial intelligence and digitalization. VW management is currently drawing up the product specifications for the vehicle.

    The production Trinity will be underpinned by VW's new Scalable Systems Platform and will be built in the automaker's home plant in Wolfsburg, Germany.

    Executives say this will be the next generation of its high volume electric vehicle architecture, following the MEB platform that underpins the ID3 hatchback, which launched in Europe last year, and the ID4 crossover, which is being rolled out in Europe, the U.S. and China this year.

    "It will be the first model that sits atop a new platform, which will a further evolutionary development of what we have today with the MEB," said VW brand development chief Thomas Ulbrich. "Naturally it will be rolled out across the group for use with other products."

    VW said future vehicle models such as the Trinity will be produced with considerably fewer variants, and the hardware will largely be standardized to reduce complexity in production.

    Project Trinity is the VW brand's equivalent of Audi's Artemis program. The project is developing a three row, seven-seat electric flagship, codenamed "Landjet," for Audi, Porsche and Bentley.

    FOCUS ON ELECTRIFICATION NEWSLETTER: A monthly wrap-up of the latest electric vehicle news, including interviews and global EV sales data, delivered to your inbox.
    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Musk echoes Apple, Mercedes CEOs on importance of China ties
    Recommended for You
    MUSK-MAIN_0.jpg
    Musk echoes Apple, Mercedes CEOs on importance of China ties
    McLaren Tobias Sühlmann 2023
    McLaren lures Bentley exec to lead design
    Toyotadaimlerexecs-MAIN_i.jpg
    Toyota, Daimler to merge truck brands Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso
    TCG Intro Image
    Sponsored Content: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • PUBLICIS SAPIENT: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us