Audi has used the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to preview the interior of the new A3 ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, while 'accidentally' showing the car itself on the screen of the MMI system.
Featuring a dashboard that closely resembles that of the Audi A1 supermini's, the A3 will debut a completely redeveloped MMI terminal. A new narrower transmission tunnel necessitated a slim line interface but even still Audi has managed to fit in the touchpad functionality that is currently fitted to A6 and A8 models. This allows drivers to input characters by writing them on the pad.
Information will be displayed on a new LED screen that slides out of the dashboard, which, in a claimed industry first, delivers 3D graphics.
A head-up display will be offered that will project vital information 2.3 metres ahead of the driver. In the future Audi hopes to use this technology to display a directional arrow that will show the direction the road will take after a hillcrest, the distance to the car ahead and the direction pedestrians in the road are heading.