What's the news?
Not for the first time, Audi will be showing off new vehicle interior technology at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The Las Vegas-based tech event has become a big draw for car companies wanting to demonstrate their new in-car tech, and Audi has previously shown off such things as its Virtual Cockpit digital instrument pack there.
This time around, the accent is again on interior technology, but with an emphasis on entertainment rather than instrumentation. As cars become more and more autonomous in the future, Audi wants to make sure that we, the occupants, are suitably entertained.
The new 'Audi Immersive Entertainment' system will be shown off in an example of the e-tron electric SUV at the CES and, while it currently is programmed only to work when the car is stationary (for safety reasons), the clear intention is for, some day, this system to be used when the car is on the move, driving itself.
According to an Audi spokesperson: "The Audi models of the future will be even more connected and therefore provide the prerequisites for an entertainment space. Thanks to automated driving, occupants will have 'free' time in the car in the future, in which they can use the next generation of in-car entertainment, for example. A different technology, the 'Audi Immersive In-Car Entertainment,' provides entertainment while the car is stationary. It allows the occupants to enjoy Hollywood blockbusters or content provided by streaming services. Welcome to the next-generation drive-in movie theatre."
Anything else?
Audi has been a regular exhibitor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas since 2011. It is the most prominent electronics trade fair and is considered to be an important driving force for trends and developments all over the world. Around 4,000 exhibitors will be on site, and roughly 170,000 visitors are expected again in 2019.