Audi aims for connectivity leadership
New generation of web-based in-car infotainment set to be revealed in AustraliaAudi believes it’s about to take the lead in driver connectivity and infotainment services in Australia with a new suite of features set to be announced at the end of the month.
The German luxury brand is trying to keep the lid on what’s coming up, but a host of new Audi Connect and Audi Connect Plus features have been revealed at this week’s reveal of the new Audi A4.
“We are announcing details of that on July 31,” confirmed Audi Australia corporate communications manager Shaun Cleary.
“Most of the [connectivity] package [offered with A4 in Europe] will be available in Australia.”
Audi’s pushing ahead with this announcement up to 12 months before the arrival of the new A4 Down Under because the new suite of infotainment and connected services isn’t only linked to that model.
It fact, the upgraded connectivity suite will start rolling out with the revised A6 large sedan that goes on-sale in the third quarter of 2019.
In Europe, Audi’s promoting web-based Car-to-X (C2X or car to infrastructure) services that tap into what’s called the “swarm intelligence” of the Audi fleet.
That means large numbers of Audis providing data to a central source that helps all of them navigate the road system. Among other things, there will traffic light information, hazard warnings and on-street parking services that let you know the location of empty spaces.
One feature carsales understands won’t be coming to Australia is traffic light information, which is only being rolled out in selected German cities for now.
The system delivers information to the car from the traffic light central computer via a server so that the driver can choose their speed to match the next green light. The instrument cluster displays a personal speed recommendation as well as the remaining time to the next green light whenever the driver is waiting at a red traffic light.
Audi says the system promotes an anticipatory driving style and aids the flow of traffic.
Audi A4 owners in Europe will also be able to customise their infotainment functions and swap some of them in and out as they desire. This feature is yet to be confirmed for Australia.
Audi already has Audi Connect in selected models in Australia but Audi Connect Plus is new here and is already being promoted on its website ahead of the July 31 launch.
The new generation of services will ramp up web-based access via an onboard SIM card. Several current Audis including the A4 already access a limited number of web-based system, using a SIM from a local provider. But Audi Connect Plus will work via an embedded SIM.
In association with this upgrade, the new A4 has swapped to a touch screen-based smartphone-inspired infotainment system with upgraded sat-nav and boosted computing power. That means the previous MMI rotary dial and push buttons have been banished.
The Audi Connect Plus package will be a key new feature for the new A4, which also adds mild hybrid capability to its line-up of four-cylinder petrol-turbo engines.
BMW introduced a new infotainment system with the latest 3 Series. Dubbed Live Cockpit, it features BMW’s seventh generation operating system.
Read the 2020 Audi A4 International Review
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
