![]() They invariably allow the driver to customise the appearance and size of the instruments and the scope and depth of data provided at a glance. Audi Virtual Cockpit: why have it?Īside from the fact that they appear friendly, similar to a Head-Up Display system, an adaptable instrument binnacle is one of those technological advances that makes you wonder how you ever got by without it. What is certain is that an increasing number of new and refreshed models are available with both traditional instruments (or, as Mercedes refers to them, 'Tubular Dials,' which isn't a little-known Mike Oldfield record) and some adaptive electronic display (the Comand Digital Instrument Panel in Benzspeak). In addition, consumers are gradually growing more interested in them as an optional extra - Volkswagen normally charges £600 for its Active Info Display – but they are a few years away from being standard installation across significant models. The proliferation of smartphones and tablets has lowered the unit cost of small, programmable LCD panels, making them more financially appealing to automakers. ![]() So, what's new about the Audi Virtual Cockpit? This meant that digital instruments remained the exception rather than the rule, contrary to popular belief, rather than becoming mainstream by the 1990s. Still, when they eventually became available, the purchasing public was not always thrilled.Īustin's attempt to tszuj-up the Maestro with a digital speedometer and voice warnings failed, while Fiat's full-width electronic-fest in the first-generation Tipo didn't last as long as the car it was put on. Motor shows and magazines have been forecasting all kinds of LCD and LED instruments since the invention of the pocket calculator more than a decade before. Not only did they look great, but they also gave the impression that the future had arrived in the mid-1980s, especially since your parents' vehicle clocks were analogue and backlit in Mateus Rose bottle green. If you're a car enthusiast over the age of 35, two childhood memories will come flooding back: KITT from Knight Rider and the Mk2 Vauxhall Astra GTE.įorget about the General Motors link all a 10-year-old cared about was the garish, primary-coloured palette of digital dials. Want to learn about the Audi Cockpit origins, what it can accomplish for you, and why it's worth specifying in your next vehicle? Audi Virtual Cockpit plus: are they that new? ![]() ![]() But, because of the VW Group's magic, it's nearly totally found across the Audi cockpitcar, with additional variants, such as VW's Active Info display, placed in other VAG group cars. It's not a touchscreen and typically depends on voice control or steering-wheel-mounted controls to work. That means you can utilise it similarly to an infotainment system, bringing up everything from music playlists to navigation instructions - and everything in between. So should you pay the additional money to go digital if you're speccing a newAudi digital dashboardat your local dealership and the salesman advises you to upgrade to the system? What exactly is the Audi Virtual Cockpit?Īudi digital cockpit replaces traditional analogue instruments with a flexible TFT display. A customisable screen replaces the typical analogue speedometer and rev counter behind the steering wheel with these digital gauges.Īudi's Virtual Cockpit technology was one of the first to hit the market, setting a high standard for other automakers to follow. Most modern vehicles include a digital instrument cluster as standard equipment or an option. ![]()
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