Aiways U7 Ion Concept Is A Family Friendly All-Electric MPV

China’s Aiways has just unveiled a brand new all-electric concept vehicle in its hometown of Shanghai. Dubbed the U7 Ion, it follows in the footsteps of the production-ready U5 SUV, showcased in Geneva last month.

The U7 Ion features the company’s FRM concept, which stands for “family and roomy mobility”. It also premieres the ‘fourth space’ interior concept, where the vehicle provides a sanctuary from busy modern life through seamless connectivity and in-car artificial intelligence tech.

Self-learning robot

The U7 Ion comes with an integrated self-learning robot, which can actually move around the interior watching over the occupants. The cabin also stands out thanks to a total of 12 screens spread throughout, including a smart dashboard touchscreen display integrated into the steering wheel, and a touchscreen built into a smart mobile console.

“Our presence at Auto Shanghai, from our new U7 ion concept and our production-ready U5 SUV to our impressive show stand, shows our drive and ambition to be a truly global mobility provider. While the U5 will go on sale in Europe in just a few months, the U7 ion concept previews the next exciting model in our product offensive. Across all our vehicles you will find a common thread – an enjoyable driving experience that caters to your lifestyle,” said Aiways president, Samuel Fu (Fu Qiang).

Back to the self-learning robot though – it is mounted on a rail in the roof of the cabin and can automatically move around the interior providing on-board sound recognition and passenger identification, to go with a more intelligent iteration of the U5’s in-car childcare tool. As for the smart mobile console, it includes a touchscreen, a table, refrigerator, air purifier and hot and cold cup holders; passengers can actually move it around the cabin to suit their needs.

We also can’t help but notice the concept’s rear hinged doors, which were designed this way in order to make access into the cabin as effortless as possible. Once inside, occupants are greeted by a ‘welcome seat’ which rotates to face them. The U7 Ion also comes with ambient lighting that automatically changes color and intensity to reflect the “tonality and volume of the occupants’ conversation or the driving style,” while the full panoramic glass roof is responsible for the airy environment.

Simple, yet edgy styling

Despite its minimalist aesthetics, the U7 Ion concept is said to offer bold SUV-styling with MPV levels of practicality. Its design has been influenced by that of the U5, hence the ‘mask-style’ front fascia and its signature L-shaped headlights. Other design traits include the taught shoulder line, large alloy wheels, rear-view cameras for mirrors, hidden door handles and an overall dynamic stance.

As if all that wasn’t enough, the U7 Ion can also use its headlights to project images onto the road ahead, as a reflection of the driver’s mood.