Cars

Continental's Ambienc3 concept packs future cabin tech in a hippie shell

This unassuming Volkswagen Type 2 bus packs a lot of next-level interior tech, including heated surfaces and novel lighting.

Chris Paukert

Following stints in TV news production and as a record company publicist, Chris spent most of his career in automotive publishing. Mentored by Automobile Magazine founder David E. Davis Jr., Paukert succeeded Davis as editor-in-chief of Winding Road, a pioneering e-mag, before serving as Autoblog's executive editor from 2008 to 2015. Chris is a Webby and Telly award-winning video producer and has served on the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. He joined the CNET team in 2015, bringing a small cache of odd, underappreciated cars with him.

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Chris Paukert

Sept. 8, 2021 7:00 a.m. PT

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Continental's Ambienc3 is a future-tech showcase wrapped inside a classic VW bus. It debuted at this week's IAA Munich Motor Show.

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The loungelike cabin features applications of new surface technologies, including sustainable fabrics and discretely mounted lighting and heating elements printed onto the backsides of upholstery.

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The VW's friendly looks help make this high technology feel more approachable.

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Continental will shortly commercialize its surface-warming tech that could bring heated floors, ceilings and other panels to automobile interiors.

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This quick-heating tech is said to require dramatically less energy than normal forced-air systems. This added efficiency could be of particularly big benefit for EVs.