While driving around in Volkswagen's newest electric vehicle,Violet (2025) the ID.4 compact SUV, for the past few days, I was bombarded with an information overload from two different screens behind the steering wheel and one on the center dashboard. But there was one unexpected alert system that proved to be less overwhelming and even calming: a silent, pulsating light strip.
The EV, which arrives next month, will subject drivers to a host of sensory distractions, some of which include notices on battery range, speed, vibration alerts when the car veers into the road shoulder, a wireless charging notification for smartphones, currently playing music or podcast tracks, and your current driving route, among others.
During my test run, I had turned off the disruptive turn-by-turn notifications while using Volkswagen's proprietary map app. But even with the map muted, when I used the Volkswagen navigation system on the 12-inch touch infotainment display, I noticed a subtle line of bright white light would illuminate the bottom sliver of the windshield.
This is the ID.Light, an interactive light strip that's intended to help drivers with simple visual cues to indicate turns or alert you if you're getting too close to the car ahead. Initially, it seemed like yet another feature vying for my attention; I didn't think it would be useful. But it actually helped me focus and tune out the onslaught of digital distractions.
CARD ID: 534754
The ID.Light system is included in all versions of the all-electric ID.4, which starts at $39,995 for the base "Pro" version. I was road testing the sold-out "1st Edition," which arrives soon for $43,995 and is rated for 250 miles of range on a 82 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
With so much else going on in the car to distract my eyes — like the customizable ambient lighting along the dashboard and door panels, and the personalized grid arrangement on the touchscreen interface — I didn't really expect to focus on the light strip.
CARD ID: 534755
But the light bar interacts with you gently and unobtrusively. Instead of another alert or ping, it's a silent, smooth pulse, powered by 54 LED lights that illuminate for various functions while driving.
When using the voice assistant system, this light bar would vibrate to show it was listening. When I plugged the car in at a public station to recharge it, the windshield would light up to indicate it was charging and to show the battery level. When someone called, the light bar would pulse in tandem with the ringing.
It's during navigation, however, that the ID.Light becomes most useful. Just before making a turn, the light would slide across the windshield to either the left or the right, depending on the destination. It functioned as a complementary alert to the directions already displayed on both screens.
The electric ID.4. Credit: volkswagen At one point during a drive, I had unintentionally exited out of map mode while arriving at a stop sign. Instead of fumbling with the display to swipe back to the map for the next direction, I knew to turn left because the light bar was pulsating to the left. It's a subtle guide, but after using the car for a few hours, it's something I came to really appreciate.
CARD ID: 534759
Volkswagen's soothing ID.Light system is a welcome respite from the audible pings and bevy of notifications about range, regenerative braking, and lane-keeping that clutter the EV driving experience. It’s a touch of zen to an otherwise overwhelming ride.
Topics Electric Vehicles
Nvidia DLSS: An Early Investigation
Revisiting Milo Thatch: The Disney king of hot nerds
Hey, Disney+ people. You should give 'Flight of the Navigator' a shot.
HBO's ‘Mrs. Fletcher’ deserves your attention because of Kathryn Hahn
Best keyboard deals: Save on Asus gaming keyboards at Amazon
How Hans Zimmer designed the sounds of a BMW electric vehicle
Why this Indian state banned Pepsi and Coke and then revoked it
Millions of Twitter and Facebook users may have had their personal information compromised
TikTok ban looms in U.S. Here's the latest.
Japan is planning toilets for all genders at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
TikTok wants me to host a dinner party. Is that an actual recession indicator?
Are foodie millennials really fueling food waste?
The new Interior secretary rode a horse to work because why not
Take 50% off toasty outdoor apparel at Columbia Sportswear
Meta continues its submission to Trump with new advisor on its board
Turkeys ritualistically circling a dead cat is as beautiful as it is frightening
Despite a rocky launch, Google thinks Stadia has a bright future
The cutest great
The 10 Most Anticipated PC Games of 2017
There's going to be a Trump
Inheriting a LegacyRedux: Philip Roth (1933–2018) by The Paris ReviewRedux: The Story of the Story by The Paris ReviewWill There Ever Be Another Writer Like Philip Roth?Et Tu, Brute?Lilac, the Color of Fashionable FeelingsPrime Numbers by Anthony MadridListening to Harold Bloom’s Laugh and DeLillo’s Bronx AccentPoetry Rx: You All Have LiedPoetry Rx: I Wish You a Tongue Scalded by TeaOn Beyoncé, Beychella, and Hairography by Lauren Michele JacksonWill There Ever Be Another Writer Like Philip Roth?What Our Contributors Are Reading This Month by The Paris ReviewWhat Our Contributors Are Reading This Month by The Paris ReviewHow to Write Personalities for the AI Around UsThe Man Behind the WeegeeThe Book I Kept for the CoverWho Speaks Freely?: Art, Race, and Protest by Aruna D'SouzaPrime Numbers by Anthony MadridAbridged Classics by John Atkinson Save 30% sitewide at Solawave: Get the skincare wand, the Bye Acne device, and more AI can now copy your handwriting — should we be concerned? Does Technology Have a Soul? by Meghan O’Gieblyn Staff Picks: Comics, Keys, and Chaos by The Paris Review Announcing Our Summer Subscription Deal by The Paris Review Emmys 2024: Kieran Culkin reacts perfectly to Pedro Pascal's speech burn How LinkedIn and dating apps fail their users in the same ways Place Determines Who We Are by Julian Brave NoiseCat Best Apple Watch deal: Get an Apple Watch Series 9 for 34% off at Amazon NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 16 The Review’s Review: Secrets, Sebald, and Simmering Heat by The Paris Review Staff Picks: Cornets, Collections, and Corn Tempura by The Paris Review Redux: An Artist Who in Dreams Followed by The Paris Review Cooking with Mikhail Sholokhov by Valerie Stivers The Shuffle and the Breath: On Charlie Watts by Christian Lorentzen Get up to 38% off tax software at Amazon: Save on H&R block, TurboTax, and more Redux: Knowing It Would End by The Paris Review The Things We Hide: An Interview with Megan Abbott by Rebecca Godfrey Le Creuset giveaway scam features deepfaked Taylor Swift A Literature on the Brink of Dawn by Richard Zenith
1.4131s , 10133.6015625 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Violet (2025)】,Unobstructed Information Network