Hi there and welcome to mozans, your new automotive job board and vehicle blog. The CEO of “Bugatti”, Adriano Mudri, has something new for us. I know you have been asking yourself what is it? Don’t worry, just stay turn and explore the new story behind the Verne autonomous ecosystem.
Remember the Rimac Nevera, the 1800 horsepower, pure electric Croatian hypercar that defies the laws of physics? The masterminds behind this marvel have launched a new car company and a groundbreaking vehicle. However, it’s not what you might expect. This isn’t just a car—it’s what they call an urban autonomous mobility ecosystem. This ecosystem comprises three main components: the platform, the supporting infrastructure, and the vehicle itself. Essentially, it’s a self-driving taxi, but it’s far from your typical car. It’s more akin to a driverless hot hatch, a wheeled conveyance devoid of steering wheels and pedals. How does one even begin to design such a vehicle? Let’s dive into a conversation with Chief Design Officer Adriano Mudri to uncover the journey from concept to reality.
Designing the Verne: A Room on Wheels.
Adriano Mudri reveals that the design process for Verne started from scratch. The focus was on the user experience, not just creating a car but a room on wheels. By beginning with the interior, the design naturally evolved. Traditional layouts were abandoned, reducing the seating to two, as most rides involve only one or two passengers. For larger families, multiple Vernes can be ordered simultaneously. The exterior integrates necessary sensors for safety and redundancy, such as long-range LiDAR that scans up to half a kilometer ahead and short-range LiDARs scattered around the vehicle, complemented by cameras.
The goal was to design a vehicle that, while futuristic, remains relatable. It shouldn’t resemble a toaster but should still look like a car to avoid intimidating users. The design mixes elements of a space shuttle and a 70s sports car, aiming to make people want to try it out.
Innovative Interior and User Experience.
The interior of Verne is spacious and comfortable, focusing on user experience. The vehicle lacks traditional driving equipment like steering wheels and pedals. Instead, it offers ample legroom and headroom, making it accessible even for those with mobility issues. The seats and layout are designed for ease of entry and exit, even in tight spots.
Verne put technology in center-stage by offering users with 43-inch center screen. This represent the traditional steering wheel, and everything that could be found in the dash of other traditional vehicles. Verne also comes with 17-speaker sound system to entertainment and sounding aspect of riders on board. Rimac Verne is also equipped with a screen at the center console (between the seats) which allows riders to adjust settings of the vehicle.
The user experience starts with an app, where you can configure your ride’s settings, including temperature, lighting, and even scent preferences. Once inside, a large widescreen provides media and other functionalities, transforming Verne into a mobile office or entertainment hub. The vehicle’s media hub, called the “median,” is your primary control interface, allowing you to initiate the ride and access various features.
The Verne Ecosystem: Motherships and Fleet Management.
CEO Marko Pejković explains that Verne’s success relies on a comprehensive ecosystem, not just the vehicle itself. This ecosystem includes “motherships,” facilities where Vernes are inspected, maintained, cleaned, and charged. These motherships ensure that each ride meets high standards of cleanliness and functionality. The vehicles are equipped with sensors to detect trash, dirt, and even unpleasant smells, ensuring that every passenger enjoys a fresh and clean ride.
The motherships are strategically located, allowing Vernes to optimize their routes and energy use. During off-peak hours, the vehicles return to the motherships for maintenance, ensuring they are always ready for service.
Challenges and Future Prospects.
The CEO again said, “developing Verne involved overcoming several challenges. Beyond perfecting the autonomous driving technology, regulatory hurdles and creating a sustainable business model were significant obstacles”.
Verne aims to offer a superior user experience, setting it apart from other autonomous vehicle concepts that have stalled. By focusing on user comfort and convenience, Vern hopes to revolutionize urban transportation.
Performance, Battery, And Range Of Verne.
According to Andriano Mudri, the Rimac Verne is equipped with a 60 kWh battery, providing sufficient energy for a full day of operation within urban settings. Designed primarily for city use, the Vern offers front-wheel drive and generates approximately 200 horsepower. Although it’s not focused on high performance, it emphasizes reliability and serviceability to ensure consistent and efficient operation. The vehicle’s weight stands at 2.1 tons, reflecting its substantial build aimed at enhancing safety and comfort.
Verne’s Competitive:
Verne is manufactured to face first born autonomy vehicles like Alphabet’s Waymo One, Zoox, Cruise Origin, and Tesla Model S Plaid. To be honest, the competition is going to be very stiff for Verne due to Zoox. Per our research, Zoox is only the driverless vehicle that has the highest level of autonomy (which is level 5). Anyways, the autonomy level isn’t yet revealed so we stand at the backend and see how it goes.
