Digitalisation of the Polo cockpit points the way to the future
World premiere of a new Active Info Display. The Polo will launch as the first Volkswagen and the first Group model to offer a new generation of Active Info Display. Volkswagen interface designers have systematically advanced the next generation of the Active Info Display (11.7-inch display diagonal) and have taken its high-quality graphics (133 dpi / resolution 1,280 x 480 pixels) and functional range to a new level. Consequently, the display offers better graphic performance, higher pixel density, greater brightness and contrast, more intense colours and fewer conventional indicator lamps. Using a ‘View button' on the multifunction steering wheel, the Polo driver can now also switch between three basic layouts, easily and quickly.
Completely new look and feel. The high-quality graphics convey a completely new look and feel with their progressive design. The crucial aspect here is that Volkswagen has fundamentally redefined fully digital instruments. The interface designers have always aimed to utilise the digital display to integrate additional information levels into the instruments. The graphics of the round instruments (dials), such as the rev counter and speedometer, however, follow the appearance of their analogue counterparts. At the next stage of digital instruments, interface designers have departed from the analogue look entirely and created a consistently digitalised world of instruments. They developed three basic digital layouts between which the driver can toggle with the ‘View button':
- A view with two dials, one for the rev counter and one for the speedometer,
- A digital view without dials,
- A digital view without dials with supplemental information. This supplemental information can be configured via the infotainment system.
Example: classic view with two dials. The view with two dials is structured as follows: arranged vertically along the left border of the instruments is the engine temperature gauge, and vertically on the right is the fuel gauge. The left dial shows the engine speed, and the engaged gear is shown in the middle. The depiction of the engine speed is interactive; the 1000 step just reached is shown with a large figure – 3 for 3,000, for example. The same applies to the right dial of the speedometer. The current speed is shown as an enlarged figure. This depiction makes it much easier to take in the information. In addition, the precise speed can be displayed on the speedometer – among other information if desired. For instance, information such as album covers and song information from the media library might be displayed on the middle screen between the two dials, depending on the configuration. Information constantly placed in this area includes the outside temperature, odometer reading and indicators for assistance systems such as ACC. Furthermore, Volkswagen can fully adapt the Active Info Display to the respective model – for example individualised graphics for the Polo Beats.
- Classic view with information profiles. Instead of placing information such as the gear in the centre of the rev counter or the precise current speed in the centre of the speedometer, information profiles can also be integrated here. For example, navigation information can be shown in the rev counter while information about the remaining driving time and distance is shown in the speedometer. In this case, the selector lever position display and the precise speed are shifted down to the lower edge of the Active Info Display and are shown smaller.
Example: Digital view without dials. In this layout the driver might personalise the screen with a dominant display of the current album cover and song information from the media library, for instance. In this case, the selector lever position display and the precise speed move down to the lower edge of the display in large numerals. Alternatively, the entire ‘driving information since the start' can be centrally displayed. A further option: the telephone display with contact images and call information or full-screen navigation. Information that is shown constantly such as trip mileage and outside temperature always stay in the same position.
Example: Digital view without dials with supplemental information. In the third view, various supplemental information can be shown. For example, navigation information, information about the assistance systems, on-board computer information and the media library. Here the Active Info Display is personalised by the driver to a large extent.
Infotainment in harmony with the Active Info Display
New cockpit environment. A new, digital and interactive cockpit environment has been created in the interplay of the Active Info Display and infotainment system. Volkswagen is introducing the latest generation of infotainment systems in the Polo which have display sizes ranging from 6.5 to 8.0 inches. Specifically, these are the Composition Colour (6.5-inch radio-infotainment), Composition Media (8.0-inch radio-infotainment with CD player) and Discover Media (8.0-inch radio-navigation infotainment with CD player). The 8.0-inch systems are glass-encased units. The infotainment systems in detail:
Composition Colour. The Composition Colour infotainment system boasts a touch-sensitive 6.5-inch colour display (16.5 cm screen diagonal), good resolution (800 x 480 pixels) and a design that immediately appeals to users of smartphones and tablets. Its surface is clear and elegant. In addition to two rotary/push-button switches, there are six flat menu buttons. Its 2 x 20 watts of audio power is output over four loudspeakers. If eight loudspeakers are installed in the car, the power is increased to 4 x 20 watts. Along with the FM radio, the infotainment system also offers an integrated SD card interface over which music can be played back in MP3 or WMA format. Like the next larger Composition Media system, the Composition Colour is also equipped with a diversity antenna; there are several antennas, and signal noise can be filtered out by linking them. A USB interface is offered as an option (Apple compatible).
Composition Media. The Composition Media features a glass surface (glass design) with an 8-inch colour display. This glass surface creates a tablet-like look. In addition to two rotary/push-button controls, the system has eight function buttons. The sound of the infotainment system (4 x 20 watts) is output over eight loudspeakers. Along with the SD card and AUX-IN interfaces, it also offers a USB port (compatible with Apple), a Bluetooth connection and a CD drive.
Discover Media. Discover Media is the radio navigation system for the Polo. It is based on the Composition Media infotainment system and includes additional navigation functionality. Updates to the navigation software are provided free-of-charge for the first five years. In addition, this includes a licence for Car-Net ‘Guide & Inform' services which is also free-of-charge (for one or three years depending on country).
Connected Community
Online services. The new Polo brings connectivity to the driver and other vehicle occupants more innovatively and easily than ever before. In the Polo, they are 'always on', which is to say they are online whenever they wish. Available are the Car-Net applications App-Connect, Media Control and ‘Guide & Inform' (wide variety of online services).
App Connect. The latest generation modular infotainment matrix creates the right conditions for connecting the Polo with today's Apple and Android smartphones via App Connect. Along with MirrorLinkÒ (Android), App Connect now also integrates Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ (Google) into the infotainment systems.
Media Control. Volkswagen is offering an interface to the infotainment system for tablets and smartphones in the form of the Media Control app. The app can be used to control many infotainment system functions conveniently from a tablet. Passengers simply connect their tablet to the Discover Media infotainment system's WiFi hotspot. Functions that can be controlled include those of the radio, all audio and video sources (e.g. USB, CD, DVD, hard drive) as well as the navigation system. Standard features in the navigation menu are supplemented by an address search function that uses the Internet and can also be used to enter selected search results as destination inputs. Rear seat passengers can now also send the calendar events and address book entries from a tablet or smartphone to the infotainment system for use as navigation destinations.
Car-Net 'Guide & Inform'. Various online services can be accessed using 'Guide & Inform'. These include 'Online POI Search', 'Online Destination Import', 'Route Import', 'Fuel Info' (location and price), 'News', 'Parking Info' (location, availability and price), 'Weather', 'Charging Stations' (for electric and plug-in hybrid models) and 'Online Traffic Information'.
Wireless Charging & Keyless Access. In the new Polo with the ‘Comfort' phone interface, it is also possible to supply power to smartphones inductively (for compatible phones). This phone interface can also be used to inductively connect smartphones to the car's external aerial.