Audi shows the Q4 E-Tron augmented reality screen
Audi has revealed the interior design of its upcoming Q4 E-Tron electric car, which includes some of the new technologies that are making their way into Audi cars.
The centerpiece of what Audi debuted for the first time on Tuesday is the new augmented reality display in front of the driver, which offers a wider field of view and more accurate and advanced animation.
Here are some examples provided by Audi for their use:
- The augmented reality system places a red line over the lane mark to notify the driver when he is driving too far to one side.
- An animation tracks the vehicle ahead when using adaptive cruise control.
- Step-by-step navigation that places a bright blue arrow into the driver's field of vision.
Audi says the new augmented reality system pulls more than 1,000 signals from sensors throughout the Q4 E-Tron to see exactly where and keep augmented reality elements in place, even if you're driving across a bumpy surface.
The Q4 E-Tron also features - as an option - the largest touch screen Audi has ever installed in one of its cars, measuring 11.6 inches diagonally, and there is a 10.25-inch display behind the wheel as well.
Audi has replaced the physical steering wheel buttons in the Q4 E-Tron for the backlit touch-sensitive buttons.
There are haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of pressing a button, and some can be scrolled to navigate the menus on the driver's screen.
The German luxury carmaker also showed off a camouflaged version of the exterior design of the Q4 E-Tron, which is set to be fully unveiled in April, and has released some other key specs about the car.
The Q4 E-Tron is the third in Audi's range of all-electric vehicles, but it will be the first to be built on the modular MEB platform of parent company Volkswagen.
This same platform supports the Volkswagen ID lineup for electric vehicles, as well as the upcoming Q4 E-Tron Sportback Edition.
Audi shared Tuesday that the Q4 E-Tron will be 4.59 meters long, 1.865 meters wide and 1.613 meters high, placing it in the larger compact SUV segment.
Although Audi has not released a range estimate since the Q4 E-Tron concept debuted in 2019, the smaller size and use of the MEB platform likely means the car won't be as heavy as the original E-Tron.
Audi says the Q4 E-Tron has a wheelbase more comparable to a mid-size SUV and interior space more in keeping with a full-size SUV, which is achieved by transferring a lot of technology to the MEB platform that forms the floor of the car.
Audi sold around 47,000 electric cars in 2020 with the E-Tron SUV and E-Tron Sportback, accounting for nearly 3 percent of the company's total sales.
