Automotive

Audi TT's virtual cockpit blends the old and the new

Audi TT's virtual cockpit blends the old and the new
Navigation, audio, phone and car-info is all displayed on Audi's virtual cockpit
Navigation, audio, phone and car-info is all displayed on Audi's virtual cockpit
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The TT's "virtual cockpit" is controlled by wheel mounted buttons, combined with Audi's rotary MMI dial
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The TT's "virtual cockpit" is controlled by wheel mounted buttons, combined with Audi's rotary MMI dial
The TTS features a special "sports" mode on the virtual cockpit
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The TTS features a special "sports" mode on the virtual cockpit
In "infotainment" mode, the TT's virtual cockpit shrinks the car's speedo and rev counter
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In "infotainment" mode, the TT's virtual cockpit shrinks the car's speedo and rev counter
The screen is a 12.3 inch TFT display
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The screen is a 12.3 inch TFT display
The screen can also be laid out like a more traditional binnacle
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The screen can also be laid out like a more traditional binnacle
The screen is powered by a quad-core Nvidia processor
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The screen is powered by a quad-core Nvidia processor
Audi claims the rev-counter runs at 60 FPS
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Audi claims the rev-counter runs at 60 FPS
Navigation, audio, phone and car-info is all displayed on Audi's virtual cockpit
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Navigation, audio, phone and car-info is all displayed on Audi's virtual cockpit
The components that make up Audi's "virtual cockpit"
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The components that make up Audi's "virtual cockpit"
The TT's interior breakdown
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The TT's interior breakdown
The Audi TT is also available with LED Matrix headlights
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The Audi TT is also available with LED Matrix headlights
The new TT's styling has cues from the first and second-generation coupe
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The new TT's styling has cues from the first and second-generation coupe
The new TT's face
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The new TT's face
Audi has packed the air-con controls into the car's air vents
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Audi has packed the air-con controls into the car's air vents
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The rise of in-car infotainment systems has seen electronic displays vying with traditional instrumentation, such as the speedometer, odometer and tachometer, for dashboard space and driver attention. Audi's solution that will be featured in its new third-generation TT is to combine the old with the new in its "virtual cockpit."

Having made it its debut in the Lamborghini Huracan, Audi’s virtual cockpit places a 12.3-inch TFT screen behind the steering wheel where the standard instrumentation would usually sit. In addition to displaying information about speed and revs, the system can also display navigation and media info and car settings.

The screen is powered by a quad-core Nvidia processor
The screen is powered by a quad-core Nvidia processor

Being a TFT display, the virtual cockpit allows the way the information is laid out to be changed depending on driver preferences. In “classic" mode, the binnacle is dominated by a traditional speedo and rev-counter, while information about navigation and the car’s entertainment systems are pushed to the middle to minimize distractions. This mode most closely mirrors a traditional setup.

In “infotainment” mode, however, the car will push details about maps, audio or phone to the front, and speed and revs are displayed on small readouts in the bottom corners of the display. This allows easy management of the MMI entertainment system, and takes the place of a screen mounted on the center console.

On the TTS model there is also a third "sport" mode, with the dials dominating the display area.

The TTS features a special "sports" mode on the virtual cockpit
The TTS features a special "sports" mode on the virtual cockpit

Audi has paid special attention to making the instruments look and feel natural. The system is powered by a quad-core Nvidia Tegra processor, running a special 3D program that allows the rev-counter to refresh at 60 frames per-second. This means all animations should stay smooth and give feedback similar to that provided by analog dials.

Beside its cool factor, there are a number of benefits to this design. The potential for customization is enormous, with the system having the potential to allow a fully individualized binnacle, where the screen displays only the information that the driver wants to see.

Additionally, by packing everything into the instrument binnacle, there's no need for a separate display on the center console. From a design perspective, this means everything is directly in front of the driver and the console can also be cleaner and simpler. This is something Audi has clearly focused on, something that is further evidenced by Audi packing the TT’s air-conditioning controls into the car’s three central air vents.

Audi has packed the air-con controls into the car's air vents
Audi has packed the air-con controls into the car's air vents

Tied in with the car's virtual cockpit is the optional 12 speaker, 680 W Bang & Olufsen sound system. The system uses a microphone to analyze potentially intrusive sounds and then tailors the speaker output to compensate. The system is coupled with Audi's Symphoria software, which separates the different elements of each piece of audio before distributing them among the car's speakers to create what Audi claims is a "wider and deeper" sound.

Source: Audi

View gallery - 14 images
7 comments
7 comments
Mel Tisdale
Excellent! I hope that other manufacturers follow Audi's lead.
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is really cool. I would rather have entertainment in the center console so that a passenger could have the option of choosing a radio station or play music (mp3 or cd). It would be nice if the navigation was also on the center console so ones 'navigator' could see and use it. IMO, too much in front of the driver is a distraction.
Rann Xeroxx
I really like the map view on this. I would be concern about having my gages all virtual like that in that I know how often tech fails and would be concerned of completely disabling my car if the screen goes out or something.
Stephen N Russell
Expand this to other Audi models & lisc for other automakers alone to produce & or install in used models Awesome Mass produce
Bob Flint
This is counter intuitive to the HUD, peering through the steering wheel into the binnacle while trying to decipher dozens of varying displays multiple functions most of which are useless information.
60 frames per second for the tachometer on an automatic transmission!
What for, why the information overload, deliberately distracting from driving, this is the worst information system I have ever seen, tiny lettering and symbols are dangerous to try to read and will lead to disaster. Bad enough with the texting, and phone conversations.
Eliminate everything but speed & fuel, possibly engine temperature, ....everything else is secondary.
K.I.S.S Keep It Stupid Simple
Even if all gauges failed, any good driver would have a relatively good idea of how fast he/she is going, and what fuel remains.
alcalde
There is already a customizable LCD dash in the new Cadillac CTS. I'm not sure I'd want to show maps on the dash, though: that's taking someone's eyes off the road for too long.
John Banister
I love that Audi is moving the data display under the dashboard where there's much less chance for direct sunlight to kill the contrast. I believe that a good solution to the passenger (when there is one) having access to stereo system controls, is to provide a tablet that acts as the the passengers' interface, and I also believe that Audi is doing just that.
However, Audi's decision to go with aluminum wiring in the third generation TT has taken me right out of the market for that car. It has been pointed out to me that with the advent of modern battery technology, there's no reason they couldn't raise the voltage and use smaller wires rather than switch to aluminum if they're really worried about the weight of their wiring.