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The refreshed Audi A7 hits all the right luxury marks
Driving fatigue can set in after just a few hours behind the wheel. Even when you're behind the wheel of some of the most luxurious vehicles in the world, you're going to want to pull over, stretch your legs and give your backside a rest. The same is true for the Audi A7. But while driving it, those rest stops were few and far between.
Audi bets you’ll pay extra for the A7's design and tech upgrades
Logically, you should buy the lower-cost Audi A6. I made an argument that when it comes to the A6 and A7. They share the same powertrain. They handle nearly identically. The problem is, we don't buy cars based on logic. Which is good news for the wonderful looking A7.
Audi’s A6 offers A7 performance for less money
The recently refreshed Audi A6 (starting at $58,900) isn't quite as nice as the refreshed A7 with its cool Sportback rear or the A8 with all-wheel steering. But that shouldn't deter you from taking one for a spin if you're shopping for it's more expensive siblings. In fact, in the bang-for-buck roundup, it's probably the Audi sedan to buy if you're more interested in performance over luxury.
Audi’s E-Tron blends luxury with cutting-edge tech
We've already seen the first pure-electric Audi in teaser images, under QR-code camoflauge and even unveiled under a barrage of lights accompanied by a DJ set from Diplo. But no amount of pomp and circumstance, sly marketing or famous DJs matter until you get behind the wheel. Good news then, that I finally had the chance to drive the Audi E-Tron in a barren desert, about as far as you can get from a well-orchestrated launch party.
Audi A8: An evolution in luxury and tech
Driving the Audi A8 along the gorgeous Northern California coastline near Big Sur is a joy. But no matter how wonderful the car may be, it had the opportunity to be better. Possibly. Instead, Audi originally announced that Traffic Jam Pilot, its level-three autonomous feature, was coming to the luxury sedan. Alas, the company had to scrap those plans. The world wasn't ready for a car that drives itself for a short period of time in select situations.
Audi’s latest infotainment system is a smarter driving companion
"Does the glass move or is the haptic feedback tricking my brain?" Sometimes you have to ask dumb questions. I was 99 percent sure Audi's updated MMI infotainment system was creating the illusion that the display moved when I pressed it. But, you have to ask questions just in case. I was informed that the glass does not move.
Googlerola buys Viewdle, ups Android's augmented reality and face recognition game
From existing tech like Face Unlock and Google Goggles to patent filings and Project Glass, it's clear that Google sees augmented reality and image recognition playing a big part in our computing future. It makes sense, then, that Big G subsidiary Motorola has bought Viewdle -- a Silicon Valley company that builds face, object, and gesture recognition technology for mobile devices. We don't know how much MMI paid for Viewdle, but we do know, thanks to a statement obtained by the good folks at TechCrunch, that the two firms "have been collaborating for some time." So, hopefully Android will reap the benefits (and fix those Face Unlock flaws) in the not-so-distant future.
Audi A3 with MMI Touch gesture-based entertainment system hands-on (video)
CeBIT isn't an auto show in the traditional sense, but we are in Germany after all, so we weren't terribly surprised to see Audi roll up with a brand new car. The latest A3 made its worldwide debut today, bringing with it that wheel-based menu navigation interface we saw in its prototype phase. The touchpad sits atop the jog-wheel and shrinks things down considerably compared to the original version found in the 7-series. To keep things nice and safe, Audi devised a system that recognizes letters you draw with your finger, enabling drivers keep their eyes on the road while selecting music, making calls or setting a destination in the GPS. Also, as is apparently the norm these days, there's Facebook and Twitter integration -- the car can even read updates as you drive. If you know, you can't wait until you're parked.As you might have gathered, the A3 is a connected vehicle, with a SIM slot or Bluetooth connection providing the car's link to the outside world. It offers another curious addition, too: a "Phone Box" signal boosting system. Details are sparse, but we do know there's an external antenna that relays the signal back to the handset. That particular feature is compatible with any phone you care to toss inside, and requires a wired connection only for charging (the box itself is amplified, so anything that sits within the enclosure will reap those boosting benefits). We managed to get the first hands-on demo with the car, and you can see all those new toys in the video and galleries below.
Audi Connect signs contract with T-Mobile, surprised like the rest of us by the AT&T thing
T-Mobile subscribers at this point are preparing for what could be a new, blue overlord, and now you can count Audi among the ranks of those wondering what's next. Yesterday the company with the rings signed on with the company with the magenta to power its Audi Connect system on US cars. It'll launch first with the 2012 Audi A7, where it will provide the wireless data pipe through which the car's MMI infotainment system will pull down Google Earth imagery, Local Search POIs, Sirius Traffic information, and even act like a Quattro hotspot for folks in the back seat. Audi's not specified how much this service will cost, but "not free" sounds like a safe bet for now.
2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 gets Tegra-powered multi-function displays (video)
Lamborghini supercars have traditionally never been known as sophisticated beasts, bullish logo proof positive of that, but that's all changed since the company fell in under the Volkswagen Group banner. The company's newly unveiled Aventador LP700-4 supercar has more tech than any Lambo before, much of it scattered about the decidedly fighter-inspired interior layout that borrows a few elements from the Audi stable. Most interesting is the MMI infotainment system, which has been given some tweaks but clearly hasn't fallen far from its parent's Tegra-powered tree. All the dials and visuals on the car are rendered on LCDs, as can be seen in the video below, along with 3D maps for navigation and a suite of customization menus controlled either by the familiar MMI jog dial in the middle or by a stalk on the steering wheel. Of course, with a brand new, 691HP V-12 tucked in the back we're thinking owners will have things more important than render quality on their minds, but those of us who can't afford the expected $350,000+ price tag will have to simply entertain ourselves by saying "Aventador" over and over again. Aventador. Aventador. Aventador...%Gallery-118805%
Audi gets on the LTE bus, wants to make infotainment more modular
Another automaker getting on the bus with 4G? Yes, it's Audi, who doesn't actually make busses but is the latest to announce its LTE intentions, though not exactly what it intends to do with it. Mobile SkypeHD video calling? They wouldn't be the first. Audi has also indicated that its 2009 partnership with Elektrobit, dubbed e.solutions, is coming to fruition. The result is a way to build a layer of abstraction between the car and the hardware running the infotainment system. Currently Audi is down with NVIDIA's Tegra 2 but obviously that's not going to be the new hotness forever, the idea being that users could swap out units at their dealers whenever they want a taste of what's new and good. You know how you pulled the factory head unit and its big, scratched up knobs out of your ride in '96 and threw in that Clarion unit with all the blinkenlights? Like that -- but probably a lot more expensive.
Next-generation Audi MMI Touch dashboard with NVIDIA Tegra-power hands-on (video)
Wishing you could get a little closer to that next-generation Audi MMI Touch interface we saw yesterday, the one we're expecting to debut on the A3? Well, you can't -- unless you're at CES, anyway, in which case you can find it chilling out in the NVIDIA booth waiting for you to go play with it. We did, getting a feel for all the lovely things that Audi is doing with the power of its Tegra chipset. It has decidedly limited functionality at this point, but it's certainly enough to give you an idea of what dashboards in 2012 are going to look like, which is way closer to Gran Turismo 5 than we'd have imagined, like a fly-around tire pressure display with a real-time 3D view of the car. Check out the video below and see for yourself. %Gallery-113310%
Audi's next-generation, Tegra-Powered MMI Touch is coming to Audi A3 first
When it comes to the proliferation of fancy infotainment systems into cars there are two schools of thought. Some, like Ford, believe that these systems should start at the lower range cars and spread across the brand. Other marques, typically higher-end ones, go the other way 'round, and Audi is definitely guilty, launching its MMI on the higher-end sedans and SUVs, like the A8 and Q7. That's changing with the next version of MMI Touch, starting on the (relatively) attainable A3. NVIDIA was quite proud to show off the system, with Tegra providing the power behind the scenes as we saw last year. That means lovely rendering of Google Earth, in 3D no less, and of course responsive performance. According to Autoblog it looks like the system's capacitive touchpad is being integrated into the scroll wheel, which should offer a solid usability improvement. No word on when we'll get to experience it, though, but we wouldn't be surprised to learn more next week in Detroit.
Motorola split official tomorrow, we hope you like red
Here we go. Perfectly timed with this week's festivities, Motorola's split, wherein one become two (a "reverse Spice Girls," if you will) is crossing the final t's and dotting the remaining i's. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that by Tuesday, the Motorola stock ticker (MOT) will stop trading, being replaced instead by Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) and Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI, no relation). The latter will focus on public-safety radios and handheld scanners while the former, with a bright new logo, will be the smartphone / set-top box-focused company that for all intents and purposes we mean when we simply write "Motorola" from here on out. It just rolls off the tongue better.
Audi teams up with NVIDIA for next-gen MMI replete with Google Earth, Vibrante entertainment system
As if NVIDIA hasn't been busy enough this year, what with its next generation Tegra chips and all, looks like the kids have inked a deal with Audi to supply the GPU for its new in-dash navigation and entertainment system. The 3G MMI system sports something called the Vibrante engine for dual zone entertainment (allowing different media on dash and backseat monitors), as well as Google Earth, 3D topography, real-time traffic reporting and navigation, iPod, SD card, USB memory stick support, and online video via the optional EDGE modem (funny, mums the word on handwriting recognition). This bad boy starts shipping with the Audi A8 in 2011, and moves on to all of the manufacturer's cars in the model year 2012. PR after the break.
Audi A8 MMI adds handwriting recognition to list of 2011 features
The A8's Multi Media Interface (a fancy name for a nav unit with media player attached) is already a pretty sophisticated piece of tech, but Audi has opted against resting on those laurels and has pushed out a new feature for the luxury saloon's next iteration. The 2011 A8 (available in Spring 2010 -- crazy, we know) will benefit from the same handwriting recognition as promised for the next-gen R8, wherein the user is able to scribble his destination all John Hancock-like and then use the touchscreen to complete his instructions. With Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean character support, this could be a particular boon for gadget lovers of a more Eastern persuasion. And just in case you're fretting that the rest of your gear won't get as much love, there are further plans afoot for connecting the car via UMTS and distributing WiFi goodness to the devices inside it. The only thing this is missing is a Snoop Dogg voiceover for the ultimate in convergence tech. Video after the break.
Audi's next-gen R8 MMI recognizes handwriting, probably increases your insurance premium
There's comes a time in every technology's life when the envelope gets pushed just for the sake of getting pushed. For Audi's already complex MMI, this is it. Right around this time last year, we were drooling quite profusely over the A8's next-generation Multi Media Interface (which is basically a snazzy name for an in-dash NAV system), but this year, we're wondering who exactly will take advantage of the R8's next system. Aside from getting a much needed UI makeover, Autobild is reporting that said platform will include support for handwriting recognition. So far as we can tell, you simply pencil in your next address with your greasy digits and tag the correct word that pops up there on the right. We're still waiting to hear why this is preferred over a decent voice recognition system, but hey, so long as James Bond approves, who are we to argue?[Via German Car Blog]
Rambus introduces 4.3Gbps mobile memory
It's not all just lawsuits and overinflated posturing for Rambus -- the prickly memory firm will later today demo what its calling the Mobile Memory Initiative, a 4.3Gbps phone-oriented variant of the XDR RAM used in the PS3 that requires just 100mV of power. That means companies can either build super-powerful phones that take advantage of a complete MMI system's estimated 17GBps throughput, or build cheaper devices that offer performance equivalent to today's memory with fewer MMI parts. Rambus won't say who it's working with to bring out MMI, but we're going to have to wait a bit before we all score cheap HD videophones -- the first products aren't scheduled to hit until early 2010.[Via Electronista]
Audi unveils enviable MMI for upcoming A8 sedan
For the acronym-challenged, Audi is getting serious about its Multi Media Interface. The automaker's present system is widely regarded as the best of the best already, but it's staying one step ahead of itself with the revamped version prepped for the A8 luxury sedan. Within the whip, you'll find a 7-inch LCD with an 800 x 480 resolution alongside a DVD drive, 40GB internal hard drive, Dolby Digital 5.1 support, optional analog / digital TV tuner, Bluetooth, twin CPUs (800MHz and 500MHz), NVIDIA graphics for "genuine 3D maps" and an optional (but necessary, really) Audi Music Interface for connecting your favorite PMP. For those uninterested in the A8 (but suddenly obsessed with this new MMI), hang tight -- it will be hitting other Audi vehicles here soon.
