Audi says it won't be offering email access on the move as part of its new in-car wi-fi infotainment system, citing the potential for driver distraction.

However Audi is allowing one-touch reply text messaging as part of a next-generation of connectivity called Connect, developed by a electronics department of 140 people.

The Connect system also has the ability to create a wi-fi hotspot on the move.

From next year Audi owners in Australia will have access to a Google Earth-based Street View navigation choice via the internet as part of the brand's Connect system, which also offers in-car reception of more than 4000 internet radio stations worldwide.

In reality the system is bringing functionality already available in smartphones to the car itself, but it's representative of an electronics-led revolution of car interiors.

Along with the more regular 2D and 3D navigational platforms, Connect allows the driver to navigate in the usual way with true-to-life visualisation provided by Google Street View. The car's occupants can call up images of their destination for familiarisation. There are also high-resolution aerial and satellite images, the streetscape and land formations. A pedestrian's 360 degree panoramic view is available to those travelling in the car.

Rather than relying on the data connection of a phone as the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will the Connect system starts with a SIM card to start the car's built-in network module. There are three ways of accessing the sat-nav - via touchpad or the centre controller or with voice instructions, in any of a dozen languages.

Audi Connect also allows simple receiving and sending of text messages, that latter using a template of 11 different responses including "Yes" and "No" and "I'm in the car - will contact you later". Text messages can be accessed while the Audi is moving, hopefully with passengers rather than the driver twiddling the dials.

Christian Biberger of the Audi's development electrics department specialising in infotainment said the current Connect system does not have a speech-to-text systemc - yet. It will be part of the next-generation Connect fitted to the all-new A3 model for Australia.

The Audi Connect system will take voice commands too, to look on the Internet for, say, a McDonalds in your vicinity, or - for the romantically inclined - flower shops. As with Apple's Siri "personal assistant" Connect produces a list of addresses and phone numbers. It is not yet known when this will be available in Australia.

Music is another integral part of Audi Connect with the driver able to call up a song or artist from a music source by voice activation. A driver's smartphone can be connected to the MMI navigation-plus system so if you fail to find a tune to your liking on those 4000 internet radio stations, an option is to go to your phone's music library wirelessly and tell the system what you want.

Up to eight devices can use the in-car wi-fi at once.

Traffic flow updates, weather reports and fuel prices are available with Connect in much of Europe, but not yet in Australia because Audi is waiting for support systems there. In Germany, advice of traffic snarls or roadworks are updated as frequently as four times per minute (from loops in roadways, smartphones, and so on).

A measure of the growing importance of hi-tech infotainment systems in cars is the increase in people working in Audi's development electronics department - from about 40 a decade ago to currently around 140.

-Drive.com.au

Comments