In a similar way that General Motors used the presentation of its new CUE infotainment system to reveal the dashboard of its Cadillac XTS back in October, Audi brought a cutaway of its upcoming 2013 A3's interior to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to display its current technologies and future projects. We'll get to the technological features later on, but for now, let's concentrate on the design of the dashboard that will find its way on all body styles of the next A3 including the three door hatchback, five door Sportback, four-door sedan and two-door convertible models.
The styling is typical Audi and closely resembles that of the smaller A2 series albeit polished up with decorative trims plus a more upscale instrument panel and center dash. The latter is also angled more towards the driver. In addition, the lower console is positioned much higher than were used to in mainstream models like the A3.
But there's a reason for that. Among the many features introduced in the new A3 is an electromechanical parking brake and the next generation of Audi's MMI infotainment system, with the controls for both systems located on the center tunnel console.
The central component of the MMI is the touchwheel that merges the touchpad and rotary pushbutton into a single unit for the first time. Audi says that the round pushbutton has a cap with a touch-sensitive surface that allows users to enter characters by finger movement.
There are also two rocker switches in front of the touchwheel that directly operate the most important areas of Telephone/Navigation and Media/Radio respectively, while a Menu key and a Back key complete the MMI's key set.
Audi says it has also revamped the MMI's interface while there's also a new 7-inch LED screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels that delivers 3D graphics, and which extends electrically from the top of the dashboard above the center console.
There's also a new Audi Phone Box that can couple any type of cell phones to the vehicle.
Audi also proposed a conceptual multiple head-up display (HUD), with the driver, front and rear passengers all getting their own HUDs on the windshield, though we're not so sure how that would work from a safety perspective (unless the driver can't see the other displays).
[From Audi Press Release]
The driver and front passenger each have their own head-up display available to them; the driver’s is contact-analogue, while the passenger has a conventional head-up display. Both displays show digital travel guides, news and pictures from video telephone calls. In the interest of safety, the driver is shown only static images and simple animations. If the passenger uses a wiping motion to pull the applications into his or her line of vision, all video functions become available.
Visible to all occupants is a central third projection, whose image appears to lie on the windshield. The driver or front passenger can move contents they are currently viewing to this central field with an easy, quick movement so that they can view it together. A camera detects the movements and directs the appropriate signals to the system.
The new A3 will be revealed this year, possibly as early as the Geneva Motor Show in March.
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