Is the new TFT 12.3 inch screen in VW PASSAT 2015 Dashboard a real start in Mass Infotainment Spread?

Some months ago  during 2014 Geneva Motor Show VW group in its Audi flavour announced a 12.3 inch screen with TFT display with the capability to display three-dimensional, full-screen maps adding a plus respect to what we can see in the very high level Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Today during Volkswagen Passat 2015 premiere such cockpit display has been presented for the German Maker class D Passat B8 version.
This is in my opinion a great step in infotainment and graphical interface in Car world because not related to a top class car but to a middle-high car meaning that soon we’ll could see such approach also in the middle C-class cars as VW Golf.

If the apporac used in Audi TT 12.3 inch dashboard has not been changed, the TFT is powered by two Nvidia Tegra K1 mobile processors based on the same graphics architecture as that used in the world’s extreme gaming PCs and the fastest supercomputer. The “virtual cockpit” in Audi TT and I expect also in VW Passat sports High-res LCD panels with 1,440 by 550 pixel, the mentioned Nvidia twin quad-core CPUs, 4G data, natural language voice recognition, computer controlled four wheel drive, very high level navigation experience and more.

While enjoying with some videos (courtesy of worldcarfans) take note of the motors offered by new VW Passat:

– 1.4 TSI with 125 PS (92 kW) and 150 PS (110 kW)
– 1.4 TSI plug-in hybrid with 211 PS (155 kW)
– 1.8 TSI with 180 PS (132 kW)
– 1.6 TDI with 120 PS (88 kW)
– 2.0 TDI with 150 PS (110 kW), 190 PS (140 kW) and 240 PS (176 kW)
– 2.0 TSI with 220 PS (162 kW) and 280 PS (206 kW)

 

2015 VW Passat TFT Dashboard (a)

 

VW Passat 2015 Dashboard (b)

VW Passat 2015 Dashboard (c)

 

 

 

LEDs, Lasers and now OLEDs in Car World

During CES we commented Audi proposal for Laser light in Audi Quattro prototype. Now BMW presented its solution for a sort of revolution in the shape of car lights using OLED. As reported by Engadget, “the extra-thin, uniformly lit strips promise tail lights (and some interior lights) that are both easy to see without reflectors and use just a fraction of the power of existing systems”.
The goal is to have, at least for complementing LEDs and Lasers –there are still some problems in brightness-, in a timeframe of three years.

Use of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) was already shown by Audi in 2012 with the so called “Audi OLED Swarm” claiming that with OLED use it is possible reacting to the approaching driver, following his movements and highlight the main contours of the vehicle or the door handle. When the driver has entered the car, restrained OLED lighting will become active inside.

One of the major  lighting companies, OSRAM, says that OLED offers completely new possibilities in lamp and luminaire design. As panel radiators they are suitable for use as signal light, taillight or even in the car interior lighting. The result: homogeneous light surfaces in all shapes and many colors, durable and energy efficient

Apple iOS in the Car Peeps on the Net, the Automotive War Games are Starting

The Tech Companies interest  in the Car World is well known and, as we saw, we can find Nokia with Here, Qualcomm with Snapdragon Automotive Solutions, BlackBerry with its Automotive QNX solution, Nvidia with its Automotive Solutions and last but not least Google-Android founding the Open Automotive Alliance.

What about Apple? Is not new on this side, and in 2013 June the Cupertino Company during the opening keynote of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) announced the iOS in the Car (iOSitC).

The development of such solution is made on iOS 7.x as explained by Apple itself claiming that “iOS in the Car seamlessly integrates your iOS device — and the iOS experience — with your in-dash system. If your vehicle is equipped with iOS in the Car, you can connect your iPhone 5 or later and interact with it using the car’s built-in display and controls or Siri Eyes Free. Now you can easily and safely make phone calls, access your music, send and receive messages, get directions, and more. It’s all designed to let iPhone focus on what you need, so you can focus on the road.” with some screenshot for some features as:

• Navigation with Maps.
• Receiving and sending messages
• Traffic conditions and ETA (Enclosed Traffic Area)
• Siri interaction.
• ITunes.

iOSitC car integration as from Apple site

Apart what above and some rumors claiming that the iOSitC is imminent no much more until now was shown, but… yesterday the developer Steven Troughton-Smith (https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith) added on his twitter account some additional screenshots as below:

Really, it is not so much respect what already present in the Apple site, but could be considered as a confirmation that the project is near to release to the customers. Until now, the Car companies interested to Apple include:

• Acura
• Audi
• Chevrolet
• Chrysler
• Ferrari
• Honda
• Holden
• Hyundai
• Infiniti
• Jaguar
• Kia
• Land Rover
• Mercedes-Benz
• Nissan
• Opel (Vauxhall)
• Volvo
• BMW
• Ford
• Toyota

The bold ones in the list above are quoted that they are planning to include the functionality from 2014 onwards as highlighted by Apple’s senior vice president (SVP) of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, At the 2013 WWDC keynote. Other as BMW initially not interested changed its position because interested in some way in introducing the standard and the the other interested to Apple proposals.

Honda already announced a deeper integration with iOS in the Car “Honda Evolves In-Car Connectivity with New Display Audio Touch-Screen Interface and Next Generation HondaLink™ Technology” highlighting that

• Advanced connected-car technology debuts in 2014 Honda Civic, followed by 2015 Fit
• Display Audio touchscreen brings smartphone-like functionality inside the vehicle
• Next gen HondaLink™ makes integrated navigation more affordable and intuitive with smartphone-powered navigation app
• 2014 Civic with Display Audio first Honda model with factory installed Siri™ Eyes Free mode from Apple

So, after the leaked screenshots shown above and the interest of Car Companies, we could expect in a very near future news from Apple about its iOSitC solution.

Anyway my personal opinion is that the decision by the Car Companies about their preferred solution probably is not yet done, or they think to use different solution among their Car portfolio.
I say this because if you see the companies that joined OAA (Open Automotive Alliance) driven by Google/Android are Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, that directly or through some related brands are also interested in iOSitC and also QNX automotive solution see Audi (again), Acura, BMW, Chrysler, Daewoo, GM, Hyundai, Land Rover, Porsche, Saab, Renault Samsung.

My two cents worth that while solution as the one from QNX (or similars) will see a standalone automotive infotainment solution in high end proposals, the one from Apple because requiring in some way iPhone, it will be an add-on cheaper than the first, making the funny situation that the Apple solution will be a sort of low-end feature.

BTW the games in automotive are just at their begin and in the next months we’ll see big things.

IOS in the Car at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference

Light Emitting Diodes? No, Audi now pushes the Laserlight Technology

As announced some days ago, Audi is massively present at CES showing among others stuff its solution for lighting, using laser diodes. This is shown as an evolution respect to the  LED technology very used in Audi.

Audi LED solution

From Audi USA we understand that using dual headlights, Audi combines matrix LED and laser light technologies. Two low-profile trapezoidal elements are visible within the headlights – the outer one generates the low beam light using matrix LEDs and an aperture mask, while the inner element produces laser light for high-beam functionality.

Audi doesn’t explain which kind of laser diodes are used but says that such powerful laser diodes are significantly smaller than LED diodes; they are only a few microns in diameter. Illuminating the road for a distance of nearly 500 meters (1,640 ft), the laser high-beam light has approximately twice the lighting range and three times the luminosity of LED high beam lights.

Even if Audi isn’t the only one automobile manufacturer that is studying such solution (also BMW presented about two months ago something similar), the presentation at CES open the Audi laser solution to a wider audience than what offered by the traditional Car Shows.

So a step beyond LEDs and two respect to Xenon the Laser lights will make a clearest light on the roads.

Audi Laserlight

Google presents Open Automotive Alliance (OAA)

A further confirmation of the Car World interest on the smart application and telco is the introduction by Google of the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA).
OAA is shown as a global alliance of technology and auto industry leaders committed to bringing the Android platform to cars starting in 2014. Focus of the alliance is accelerating annovation an the Car using a Open Ecosystem approach. The focus and interest from Audi is well known and now are “on-board” also GM, Honda, Hyunday, Nvidia and of course Google itself. It is quite interesting that all the important Car Makers countries are represented; Audi from Europe, GM from America/US, Honda from Japan, Hyunday from Korea (Hyunday is one of the most important realta of the last year with a relevant market penetration also in the Europe market that is afflicted from economical and financial crisis. Partecipation of Nvidia in the OAA is important for its solution for its automotive innovation and the such Company is already on track with its Tegra solutions.

So, 2014 seems starting well for Automotive World!

4K and Auto are the 2014 CES Iconic Words

Engadget’s CES 2014 preview talks about what we’ll see in the next days. This year, excluding the already commented Wereable Devices,  the iconic terms can be summarized in 4K and Auto.

Ultra HD 4K is the trend that the major TV companies will push this year in the stores. Last year Sony presented one of the first ultra HD TV, the very well-reviewed Sony XBR-X900 and soon other manufacturers presented their solution from the cheapest Chinese players to Korean to Panasonic (that in meantime ended its best in class Plasmas). If last year you di asked about the trend and near future of TVs I’m pretty sure that the answer was OLED, but after an year it seems that the TV makers would delay the OLED revolution. Engadget guys don’t exclude it, but for some reasons (e.g. the panel life) I think that the 4K will be the mainstream solution for the next two year’s leaving OLED for the high-end niche, but we’ll see.

The other CES icon word I would say that will be auto meaning the in-car entertainment and driving solution. I hope this will be real because I think that up to now the Car makers didn’t shown their potential offering displays and UI experience not at the same level offered by the current Tables. Audi is the brand that probably will drive the sector in Las Vegas and it announced a partnership with Google for using Android in its infotainment systems as reported by CNET. In the meantime the CES floor square occupied by Car Makers grew up 25 percent from last year and it sounds good.

Ok guys, the CES will start in very few days and will see.