First impressions of Audi's next TT interior and Virtual Cockpit [w/video]

Wed, 08 Jan 2014

Not content to pummel CES show goers with laser lights and self-piloting vehicles, Audi has also pulled the wraps (well, some of the wraps) off the interior of its upcoming next-gen TT. While the car itself wasn't on hand for us to check out, Audi did mock up the cockpit, complete with its all-new Virtual Cockpit central display and the latest iteration of the company's Multi Media Interface (MMI).

Virtual Display is Audi's new brand name for a completely digital reinterpretation of the instrument binnacle, by way of a 12.3-inch TFT screen. Audi tells us that there are two operable modes for Virtual Display: in the standard mode, an average-sized tachometer and speedometer flank a smaller infotainment portion in the center. Infotainment mode, meanwhile, shrinks the gauges to discreet circles and allows the navigation map, audio controls, or whichever system is being operated by the driver, to fill the remaining screen real estate.

This design, says Audi, allowed engineers to slim down the size of the center console as a whole, without reducing function for the driver. We can say that it looks very impressive as a demonstrator, but we will need some time with it in a moving vehicle before we're convinced it isn't slightly more distracting that a traditional setup.

MMI has also been made over for introduction on the next TT, with the infotainment system's current four buttons and one central rotary dial being replace with a more streamlined interface. There are only two lateral buttons in the new system, while the dial receives a touchpad on its top that functions in much the same way as the squarish touchpad found in current, top-line Audi products. Write out a letter or number with the tip of your finger on the touchpad, and the system will recognize and quickly decode it for whichever function you are attempting. (See the video below for a very short demo of the MMI touchpad.)

Of course, even in this static setup, you can tell that the new TT cabin is build well and designed impeccably. The circular air vents house climate control displays in a nifty integration of form and function, while the metal and leather bits feel both substantial and durable. Bring on the full car, we say.

Puristic, sporty and clean – Audi to present its new TT interior at the CES

• New, slimline instrument panel with driver-focused display
• Audi virtual cockpit and new MMI focus on intuitive use

• Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg: "Enabling the driver to experience technology"

Ingolstadt/Las Vegas, January 7, 2014 – Puristc, sporty and fully focused on the driver – for the new TT, Audi is significantly advancing its interior design. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas held from January 6 through 10, 2014 the brand with the four rings will, for the first time, be presenting the compact sports car's new interior, which will be launched on the market in the course of the year.

As Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Technical Development says, "The first Audi TT was the design icon per se, the second generation was even sportier, right through to the TT RS plus with its five-cylinder TFSI and 360 hp. And with the new Audi TT, the driver will be able to experience the technology to an even greater extent – just as would be expected from a genuine sports car. And it comes with a new generation of electronics and connectivity features."

For this reason, the Audi virtual cockpit is the focus of attention for the first time in one of the brand's production models. The fully digital instrument cluster displays all the information directly in front of the driver, meaning that there is no need for a central MMI monitor. This solution gave the designers the freedom to slim down the instrument panel architecture such that it visually conveys the Audi lightweight construction principle.

With its clear lines and innovative operation, the interior of the next TT generation has been redesigned from the ground up. From above, the instrument panel resembles an airplane wing; set low and with a turbine look about them, the round air nozzles, a classic TT feature, are reminiscent of jet engines. The controls for the air conditioning are also housed in the vents – the adjustment functions for seat heating, and for the temperature, direction and strength of the flow of air are located in their axes, with small displays indicating the chosen setting. Located beneath the central air nozzles, the switches for the hazard warning light and the secondary functions are centrally positioned and easily accessible.

With its brilliant graphics with a 3D impression and highly-detailed effects, the Audi virtual cockpit with its 12.3-inch TFT monitor sets new standards. Drivers can switch between two display modes. In the classic view, the speedometer and rev counter are in the foreground, while in "infotainment" mode, the virtual instruments are smaller. The space that is then created offers ample display space for functions such as the navigation map.

All elements of the new Audi TT operating concept are focused on the driver. The compact sports car's new multifunction steering wheel features a flat-bottomed rim, with aluminum-look clips framing its spokes. The buttons and controls on the spokes allow you to control almost all functions, including the ultra-modern infotainment system. The menu is structured to reflect that of a smartphone and includes a full-text search function (MMI search). All the main functions are just a few clicks away – the entire operation superbly conveys a new kind of "joy of use". The MMI terminal on the center tunnel console, the second control unit alongside the steering wheel, has also been exhaustively redeveloped. Thanks to the MMI touch, the driver can scroll and zoom in lists and on maps. And accessing other options has been simplified; in future this will be possible using just two rather than four buttons in the area surrounding the rotary pushbutton.

The innovations in the Audi TT interior include the S sport seats with their significantly curved side bolsters, the integrated headrests and the low seating position typical of a sports car. The slender character of the seats is emphasized by bezels on the flanks of the backrest and a cover on the back; the backrest is adjusted using a loop. The side bolsters of the S sport seats can be adjusted pneumatically.

With its clear, sharp lines, the interior as a whole perfectly expresses the new Audi TT's sporty nature. The center tunnel console, that supports the lower leg when driving fast through a bend, and the door panels boast flowing mutually-reinforcing contours. All the details highlight Audi's attention to quality – from the design of the gear knob and the precise functioning of the rotary pushbutton to the Audi virtual cockpit.

By Seyth Miersma