DigiFiz – a pioneering achievement
It offered innovations that literally caught the eye of the beholder, beginning purely externally with what – for the time – were futuristic-looking digital displays and continuing to their precision that is unrivalled to date. These included above all the digital speed and route displays, the fuel gauge measuring to the precise litre, the coolant temperature to the precise degree and the reminder of the next service appointment.

These are stories that Tomasz Bachorski listens to with fascination: “Without these pioneering deeds, such as the DigiFiz, we wouldn’t have the Active Info Display in production today,” says the Head of Interior Design for the Volkswagen Brand, complimenting Zimdahl and his colleagues at that time.

In 2018, digitalisation has also long since reached Volkswagen Interior Design in all its information functions and comfort zones – which, according to Bachorski, is also what presents the challenge: “Functional, trustworthy technology – in the displays for speed and fuel consumption for example – in harmony with attractive aesthetics and graphic excellence.” And, above all, with a healthy portion of options for individualisation.

The completely glass-covered system without analogue buttons allows functions and design to blend with one another. “Digitalisation opens up entirely new stylistic options for us designers, as in the Innovision Cockpit of the new Touareg,” continues Bachorski enthusiastically. His team has been involved in the development from the outset, exchanges ideas with ergonomics experts, the developers, consults with sales and pays particular attention to the user experience. In other words, there is direct feedback from users in ‘real life’.

From miniscreen to multifunction display

The miniscreen called DigiFiz was not in great demand from the customers at that time. Today, it is an extremely sought-after classic item with cult status.

Crystalline challenges

Ah yes, the timeless quality mentioned at the beginning. Change and innovation – wasn’t there something else as well …? That’s it, the keyword of ‘liquid crystal display’. “We found what we were looking for from a producer of digital watches,” reports Dr Walter Zimdahl on the pioneering age of DigiFiz. “The only problem was the crystals in the watches could no longer be aligned to an electric field at temperatures above 50 degrees; everything turned grey or black and white, you could no longer make anything out. In the Golf and Jetta, however, the display had to function within a temperature range of minus 40 to +80 degrees!” Instrument manufacturer VDO was consulted – and together we achieved production maturity.

Tomasz Bachorski can only agree: he too knows the crystalline challenges. “Yet ultimately it was not a problem for us – the Active Info Display is clearly legible in every climatic zone. Night or day, with spectacles or sunglasses.”

So the outlook is good. For the future as well.