Volkswagen e-Golf Touch Features Touchless Controls [News]

Las Vegas, NV – Volkswagen unveiled the e-Golf Touch amidst the background of the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. VW’s all-electric compact car demonstrates upcoming technologies that will be available in future production cars by 2019. On the list is a new infotainment system controlled by hand movements – something that is currently only available in the ultra-expensive BMW 7-Series.

e-Golf Touch interior - CES 2016

Other highlights showcased in the e-Golf Touch include the latest version of modular infotainment system (MIB) with a configurable 9.2-inch high-resolution display (1280×640 pixels), new “electronic voice amplification” that makes talking with backseat passengers much easier, and wireless smartphone charging in armrests of the backseats. For faster charging and high-speed data transfers, the e-Golf Touch is equipped with USB Type C ports.

We live in a connected society and are tethered to our personal electronic devices. The e-Golf Touch features an interactive Human Machine Interface (HMI) that opens a communications channel between humans and cars possible. Smartphones, smart watches, cameras, and tablets are tools that we use daily and are being integrated into the car in new ways.

Media Control, Generation 3.0 is an app that controls infotainment functions through a tablet. Additionally, it enables video streaming between tablets, remote control of media playing on tablets, and the capability to download an audio streaming playlist to the infotainment system using a tablet or smartphone.

VW e-Golf Touch at CES 2016

Volkswagen Car-Net® App Connect is the brand’s advanced smartphone integration platform that allows for seamless integration from your device to the vehicle. When linked to the infotainment system, the Telephone app can be used—via the system’s touchscreen—with a graphic interface that mirrors that of the smartphone being used. Similarly, the voice control which is available on several smartphone operating systems, map or music apps can also be used in the same manner. Through Car-Net® App Connect and the MirrorLink™, Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® integrated platforms, the system is compatible with most available smartphones currently available—all done wirelessly. In the cars we have tested with CarPlay and Android Auto, it is necessary for the smartphone to be hardwired with a USB cable to the car. With the next generation Car-Net App Connect, the smartphone can be supplied with constant power on the inductive charging cradle and concurrently access the set of a integrated smartphone apps.

Personal settings – such as memorizing seat and steering wheel position, personal comfort settings, favorite music stations – can be saved to the cloud for access in other Volkswagen models. VW’s Personalization 2.0 allows individual settings for one driver to be saved in a user account, then saved to the cloud via Volkswagen Car-Net ID. Once saved to the cloud, those personal settings can be downloaded to another compatible VW vehicle and activated. Imagine getting into a rental car and having it personalized the same way as your personal V-dub at home.

Check out this TFLcar video of the VW BUDD-e debut at CES: