A mysterious set of patent images have emerged online which could show an impending electric car concept from Volkswagen.

Uncovered by a member at the VW Vortex forums, the images detail a sleek-looking EV with autonomous driving functions which is likely to debut sometime next year.

Design wise, the vehicle looks like nothing else Volkswagen currently produces but could be the second concept in the brand’s future electric range which will adopt a unique styling language.

The front is characterized by a simple faux grille with circular headlights located behind a series of horizontal slates. The vehicle also makes do without a windscreen and has two massive doors which appear to swing up towards the sky like gullwing doors.

At the rear, a window has been replaced by a prominent fin running down the spine of the car and from some angles, the rear fascia reminds us of the Bugatti Chiron, a car which VW could conceivably take some design inspiration from.

If the model pictured is indeed a Volkswagen, it would act as the company’s second concept from its impending fleet of electric vehicles that will start with the I.D. from the Paris Auto Show. Given the futuristic and impractical design of the model pictured, it’s impossible to determine if it could spawn a production-spec model and what form such a vehicle would take.

There’s also a possibility that the EV autonomous car pictured isn’t a Volkswagen and instead a car from another manufacturer.

Whatever the case may be, we expect to see more of the car in the next few months.

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