Meet The Smart Urban Vehicle, ZF’s First Concept Built Entirely In-House [w/Videos]

We’re used to hearing about ZF’s sophisticated automatic transmissions, but the German auto parts supplier has recently demonstrated it can built a vehicle entirely in-house.

Called the Smart Urban Vehicle, the prototype is a showcase for new technologies developed by ZF, including an innovative front axle concept, semi-automated assistance functions, a multifunction steering wheel with hands-on detection (HOD) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, as well as an electric Twist Beam (eTB) rear axle with electric motors mounted close to the wheels.

ZF says the Smart Urban Vehicle is “extremely maneuverable” thanks to impressive steering angles of up to 75 degrees. Thanks to the modified wheel deflection, the turning circle diameter of the Smart Urban Vehicle is reduced to under 7 meters (22.9 ft), which means that a U-turn is possible a standard two-lane road.

At the heart of the vehicle concept is the all-electric rear-axle drive eTB, which is mounted close to the wheel and enables the basic layout of the Smart Urban Vehicle to be redesigned.

The electric motors source power from a traction battery, which is housed in three modules on the front and rear axle. There are two 40kW (54hp) electric motors powering each rear wheel, allowing the Smart Urban Vehicle to reach a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph).

The prototype is also equipped with two semi-automated driver assistance functions: Smart Parking Assist and PreVision Cloud Assist. The former technology allows the driver to remotely maneuver the vehicle into virtually any small parking space using mobile devices such as a smartphone or smartwatch. The system assists the driver not only in recognizing suitable parking spaces, but can also park the vehicle fully automatically in parallel or perpendicular spaces.

The cloud-based PreVision Cloud Assist function helps provides maximum range and driving safety by reducing drive torque when necessary – for instance, before entering a bend. As a result, the system decreases vehicle speed without any mechanical braking.

You can find more information about ZF’s concept vehicle in the videos posted below.