Welcome to London's Volkswagen Garage.We have a team of independent Volkswagen specialists who can sort out anything from basic Volkswagen servicing to advanced technical Volkswagen cars problems. One of the best Volkswagen Master Technician on site offering knowledge and experience using the latest Volkswagen Main Garage Dealer compulsory diagnostics equipment.

Nobility, sporting personalities, actors and TV presenters – to mark the start of Rally Monte Carlo, top international stars took a seat next to the world rally champions from Volkswagen. ‘Taxi rides’ around the Grand Prix circuit in Monaco in the Polo R WRC, the world championship-winning car from 2013, 2014 and 2015, gave them an impression of the driving skills of Sébastien Ogier (F), Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen (N).

Among the passengers in the rally Polo: actor Mikael Nyqvist, noted for his performances in many Swedish TV productions, particularly the adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” trilogy; Pierre Casiraghi, seventh in line to the throne of Monaco; former footballer Thomas Helmer, a European Championship winner with Germany in 1996; Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who topped the world rankings for 67 weeks; European Footballer of the Year 1991, Jean-Pierre Papin, who played for AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Marseille and Bordeaux; Finland’s most-capped footballer, Jari Litmanen; French rugby star Damien Chouly; and Allan McNish, former Formula 1 driver and three-time overall winner of the Le Mans 24-hour race.

“Wow! That was a real adrenalin rush. I did sit next to Pierce Brosnan in a car during filming one time – but Seb really knows what he is doing!” said Mikael Nyqvist after his drive with Sébastien Ogier. Caroline Wozniacki enjoyed a swift city tour with the three-time world champion and added: “I live here in Monaco – and this fast taxi ride was a great new experience for me. I felt really safe sitting next to Sébastien Ogier.”

The ceremonial start for Rally Monte Carlo also welcomed the German TV presenter Kai Pflaume, dancer Katrina Patchett and the world record holder in race walking, Yohann Diniz.

After the VIP rides and the ceremonial start in Monaco in the evening were finished, Rally Monte Carlo also marked the official launch of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season, with 14 rallies on four continents taking place on ice and snow, asphalt and gravel.

Volkswagen is defending all the world championship titles – in the Manufacturer, Driver and Co-Driver categories – for the third time in a row.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Wolfsburg / Detroit, January 2016. The USA is the world's most important SUV market; in no other country does the multifaceted, all-round vehicle enjoy such an automotive feeling. Now, Volkswagen is introducing the Tiguan GTE Active Concept - a forbearer of an entirely new generation of SUVs - in a world premiere at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit - in the Sport Utility Vehicle's country of origin. Especially progressive is the 165 kW / 225 PS drive system of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept: an efficient plug-in hybrid system with two electric motors and an engine, which can supply all four wheels with power - automatically or at the push of a button. In this show car, Volkswagen is proving how much potential the plug-in hybrid systems have. On-board the Tiguan GTE Active Concept, the technology of the all-wheel drive system ensures that the SUV can offer confident off-road performance even in all-electric mode.

SUV product offensive. The five-seat concept car is based on the completely redeveloped second generation of the Tiguan. The Tiguan GTE Active Concept reflects the great technical range of the new SUV generation with its all-wheel plug-in hybrid system and an infotainment system that has also been redeveloped (9.2-inch touchscreen with gesture control and a high-end glass surface). It will arrive on the USA market starting in spring 2017 in a version with an even longer wheelbase and seven seats. For Volkswagen, the new Tiguan marks the kickoff of an SUV product offensive - the range of SUVs offered will be significantly expanded, especially in North America.

Zero emissions in start-up phase. After starting the drive system, the concept car always drives at first as a zero emissions vehicle in the all-electric E-mode. Normally, it is driven by the rear wheels, but if there is a risk of traction loss, the front wheels are engaged too within fractions of a second. All four wheels are also activated when the driver selects 4MOTION Active Control of the all-wheel drive or off-road programs. Then too, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept starts up in all-wheel drive and with zero emissions (provided of course that the battery is sufficiently charged). The Volkswagen can cover up to 20 miles all-electrically. The vehicle's driving range (based on a battery capacity of 12.4 kWh and a 64-liter fuel tank) is 580 miles.

Progressive overall concept. Volkswagen has configured the design, packaging and technical features of the SUV to be just as progressive as its plug-in hybrid drive system. The Tiguan GTE Active Concept projects an authentic off-road look, which makes a powerful impression with its stylish precision and perfection and taut proportions. The Tiguan is the first SUV to be based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB), and it shows innovative space utilization as a plug-in hybrid. Moreover, like the later production version of the new generation of SUVs, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept is also equipped with safety systems such as Front Assist including City Emergency Braking and pedestrian monitoring, an active bonnet, Lane Assist and the automatic post-collision braking system. Another highlight of the concept car is its infotainment system: In the Tiguan GTE Active Concept, Volkswagen is presenting the top system of a new generation of high-tech infotainment - with a 9.2-inch touchscreen and gesture control that has been implemented for the first time in this class. Also on-board: an Active Info Display (fully digital instruments) and a head-up display.

The drive system - Plug-in hybrid plus all-wheel drive

Plug-in hybrid plus 4MOTION. The Tiguan GTE Active Concept - which is equipped with a turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engine (TSI, 110 kW / 250 Nm) and two electric motors (front 40 kW / 220 Nm, rear 85 kW / 270 Nm) - shows that a plug-in hybrid drive (system power: 165 kW / 225 PS) can confidently supply all four wheels with propulsive force under off-road conditions. The all wheel drive system - known as 4MOTION at Volkswagen - boosts traction and contributes to active safety on normal roads as well.

Drive system components. The transmission used in the Tiguan GTE Active Concept is a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG) that was specially designed for hybrid use; the electric motor at the front is integrated into the transmission case. Other components of the 4MOTION plug-in hybrid drive, besides the motors and engine, include the lithium-ion high-voltage battery (energy capacity: 12.4 kWh) that can be charged either externally or via the TSI, power electronics for the front motor and a second power electronics module integrated in the electric motor at the rear (it converts the direct current from the battery into alternating current for the electric motors) and a charger.

Drive types - rear-wheel and all-wheel drive. Depending on the driving program and drive modes, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept is either driven by the rear wheels or by all four wheels. As a default, the concept car always starts off electrically in the zero-emission E-mode. If the battery is sufficiently charged, the rear electric motor powers the car by itself; now the Tiguan GTE Active Concept is a rear-wheel drive car - the TSI and the front electric motor are decoupled from the drivetrain and are shut off to save on energy. However, as soon as the driving situation demands it, or the driver manually activates a related mode, the front electric motor is also engaged in fractions of a second. The Tiguan GTE Active Concept is now a zero-emission all-wheel drive vehicle whose electric motors are supplied with energy from a lithium-ion battery. The concept car can cover up to 20 miles before the gasoline engine is needed. In Emode, the Tiguan has a top speed of 70 mph or 120 km/h.

Electric propshaft. If the battery is no longer sufficiently charged, and the system requests that the electric motor on the rear axle be supplied with electricity (for dynamic handling reasons or in the Off-road program) by the front electric motor and gasoline engine, the TSI is started up and engaged (Hybrid mode). In this case, the front electric motor serves as a generator for the rear electric motor.

Since the energy for driving the rear axle flows "by wire" and not mechanically, we speak of an "electric propshaft". In Hybrid mode, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept may automatically use the TSI and/or the electric motors, depending on the energy level of the battery.

Driving programs: Onroad, Offroad, Snow, Charge, Battery Hold. The rotary/push-button switch of the new 4MOTION Active Control unit is located on the center console. The driver can use this control to select one of six driving programs: Onroad (Comfort or Eco), Offroad (Rocks, Sludge & Sand or Gravel), Sport, Snow, Charge (battery is charged while driving) and Battery Hold (maintains a constant battery charge). When the Tiguan driver turns the round switch to the left, the on-road programs Onroad, Sport, Snow, Charge or Battery Hold can be activated. When the switch is turned to the right, the user can access the Offroad programs. In offroad duty, the 4MOTION Active Control can adapt the assistance systems to the given driving situation within seconds with just one user operation - a further safety benefit. The same applies to the Snow program, which optimizes safety in winter road conditions.

Drive modes: Hybrid, E-Mode, GTE. The E-mode and GTE mode are activated by separate buttons on the center console. When the driver presses the E-mode or GTE-mode button a second time, the car switches back to Hybrid mode. As mentioned, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept may operate with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in Hybrid mode and in E-mode. In the very dynamic GTE mode, the car automatically switches to all-wheel drive. The GTE mode is a USP of all Volkswagen cars with a plug-in hybrid drive. The transmission, accelerator pedal and steering characteristics are made noticeably more dynamic, and the TSI engine's tuning is also more performance oriented. In addition, the turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engine and the electric motors work together in the GTE mode and in kickdown/boosting. This makes the full system power of 165 kW / 225 PS available - and in this case the Tiguan GTE Active Concept, with its top speed of 120 mph / 193 km/h, accelerates to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. Depending on the given driving situation, the SUV may use the TSI by itself or switch over to the additional "Coasting" or "Regenerative braking" hybrid modes.

• Coasting function. As soon as drivers take their foot off the accelerator pedal, the engine and all motors are shut down and disengaged from the drivetrain, provided that the battery is sufficiently charged. This is known as "Coasting". No emissions are generated here either.
• Regenerative braking. When drivers take their foot off the accelerator pedal or brake when the battery is insufficiently charged, both electric motors work as generators and feed the energy generated during braking into the lithium-ion battery. In this case, too, the TSI is shut off and disengaged.
• Driving with the TSI. When the gasoline engine alone is powering the vehicle, the concept car is a front-wheel drive vehicle only. Here, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept is very fuel efficient as well, thanks to the efficient technology of the turbocharged direct-injection engine that has a displacement of just 1.4 liters.

Exterior - Completely redeveloped all-terrain features

SUV has taut proportions. The second generation of the Tiguan - which includes the show car being presented in Detroit - is, as mentioned, the first SUV from the Volkswagen Group to be based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB). The Tiguan GTE Active Concept is 176.9 in / 4,494 mm long, 74.8 in / 1,899 mm wide and 69.5 in / 1,766 mm tall. Like all MQB vehicles, the concept car has a large wheelbase (105.5 in / 2,681 mm) and an especially good package. That is precisely why the five-seat Tiguan GTE Active Concept also offers tremendous space in the passenger compartment and the boot.

SUV with charisma. Painted in brilliant, shiny Dragon Red Metallic, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept makes it clear at first glance that it not only wants to play. The team of designers and engineers who were responsible for the concept car developed an entirely new set of all-terrain features customized for the downtown areas of large cities. These features are both durable and tailored to the demands of globetrotters. The classic off-road parameters of the body show this. Sporting an off-road front end, they were all further improved compared to the already excellent production version of the Tiguan. For instance, ground clearance under the axles was increased from 180 to 225 mm, and the maximum ground clearance under the car was increased from 200 to 245 mm. The approach and departure angles were improved as well: from 25.6 to 26.1 degrees in front and from 24.7 to 29.9 degrees at the rear. The maximum ramp angle for overcoming road bumps grew from 20 to 24.7 degrees.

Front end has underbody guard. The production version of the new Tiguan - which was shown in autumn 2015 at the International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt - already showed an authentic SUV design and a charismatic front end. This pure and precise alignment is reinforced by the all-terrain features of the concept car. Viewed from bottom to top, first there is the underbody guard whose design and construction make it clear that the Tiguan GTE Active Concept was also designed for excursions off the paved trails. The underbody guard, in matte aluminum, is equipped with four solid black polymer protectors which, first, protect against contact with stones and bushes and, second, can be easily replaced after an extreme trip through the outback. The front bumper is also trimmed with an all-terrain element made of durable polymer in the new color "Dark Graphite" (a matte anthracite-gray). On the exterior, this element is bordered by a distinctively designed frame, which integrates the c-shaped LED daytime running lights that are typical of the Volkswagen plug-in hybrid and electric models. The framed lower air intake is produced from a polymer that is just as rugged. If the Tiguan GTE Active Concept is needed to pull another off-road vehicle in reverse from the muck, there are two aluminum-colored metal hooks in the air intakes on the left and right sides of the front end. The standard headlights are designed entirely in all-LED technology. Sophisticated: elements finished in "Dark Chrome Glossy" on the three crossbars of the radiator grille; the upper and lower bars are each continued up to the headlights. In this way, the headlights and radiator grille form a single, wide and powerful unit.

Roof section has auxiliary LED spotlights. Also equipped with a dark all-terrain module is the roof section; the screw-mounted top is made of fine aluminum. Integrated here are high-strength cross-rails that can serve as a base support for skis or other equipment items. They too are made of aluminum, but they are the color of the metal, which contrasts with the black roof. At the front, the roof also has two flat LED auxiliary spotlights, which - like the cargo cross-rails - are framed in matte aluminum.

Side profile with aluminum side sills. On the sides, the interplay of the all-terrain body elements and the distinctively profiled off-road tires clearly identify the Tiguan GTE Active Concept as an off-road vehicle among SUVs. The 16-inch tires sized 245/70 offer optimal traction on slippery surfaces due to their off-road tread that extends into their sides. The rugged, sporty-looking alloy wheels have spokes and are finished in high-gloss black. The powerful design of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept gains even greater presence by its wheel well extensions in "Dark Graphite". Between the wheels, the door and side sill trim elements (also in "Dark Graphite") were specially developed for the concept car. These trim elements are protected by underbody guard elements made of matte aluminum toward the bottom. Fine side details: the caps of the exterior mirrors, which are finished in "Dark Chrome Glossy", match the trim elements at the front end; their color coordinates perfectly with the side window frames.

Underbody guard at the rear. Like the front and sides, the rear body of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept is also equipped with a solid underbody guard made of matte aluminum. Like the front end, four interchangeable polymer protectors are used here as well. The lower area of the bumper is protected by all-terrain trim that is also anthracite colored. So, these trim elements are found all around the car body. Above the trim, the outside of the bumper is also trimmed in anthracite-colored anodized trim strips. Last but not least, the SUV also has two solid aluminum-colored metal hooks for towing and freeing up other stuck vehicles or for removing tree branches that are blocking the trail.

Interior - New generation of infotainment systems with gesture control

Personalized interior. The design team also customized the interior space of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept to coordinate with the all-terrain exterior. For instance, the trim strips of brushed, dark aluminum ("Blade" design) matches the materials used for the front and rear underbody guards and for the add-on roof components; the trim strip wraps around the instrument panel and the door trim panels, defining their style. In addition, accents in dark chrome ("Black Night" design) create a connection to the exterior design. These accents include the steering wheel trim. Meanwhile, fine "Dragon Red" strips in the frames for the air vents repeat the color of the exterior paint. Another new design element is the two-tone Nappa leather upholstery in "Rhodium Grey" and "Dark Graphite": The seat surfaces, armrests and door inserts are all upholstered in the bright "Rhodium Grey". The "Color & Trim" design team used "Dark Graphite" for the side surfaces and seatbacks (outer surfaces). The leather surfaces of the seats and door inserts in "Rhodium Grey" exhibit a three-dimensional pattern of rhomboidal shapes that transitions in size (from small to large). Along with their size, the rhomboids also change in their three-dimensionality. The large rhomboids are embossed deeper, while the embossing of the small rhomboids is barely perceptible. The same design pattern was transferred to the milled aluminum surrounds of the woofers in the doors. The open leather edges also reflect a high level of craftsmanship; they are worked into the seats, head restraints, armrests and steering wheel - a narrow red dyed stripe between the different leather surfaces. Using these open leather borders along with a new processing technique made it possible, for the first time, to produce the leather-trimmed steering wheel without stitching.

Avant-garde display and control elements. Overall, the interior also emphasizes the car's sporty SUV character. Fitting in with this picture is the driver-oriented design of the instrument panel with its display and control elements that feature avant-garde styling and are perfectly thought-out. The visually dominant equipment elements onboard the Tiguan GTE Active Concept are the digital Active Info Display (in front of the driver) and the newly developed, next-generation infotainment system. Directly beneath its large touchscreen - which can also be operated by gesture control - is the center console with climate controls. Here, all of the controls are designed as touch sliders, including for the seat heating function. The center console itself is dominated by the high position of the gear shifter with an array of control buttons arranged around it. The latter is longer on the driver's side, because this is where the multifunction switch for the new 4MOTION Active Control is located.

Next generation infotainment system. The top system of the next-generation modular infotainment platform (MIB) at its final production level which is now being shown deserves special attention. The two exceptional features of this system are a large 9.2-inch high-resolution touchscreen (1,280 x 640 pixels) and gesture control. All functions and displays were also embedded with a screen surface that is sophisticated and clear as glass; on the left - facing the driver - are five sensor buttons (Menu, Home, On/Off and Volume "+" / "-"). The 8.2 in (209 mm) wide and 4.1 in (104.6 mm) tall home screen consists of a large main window and two configurable tiles (positioned on the right side on the home screen), each of which is 1.7 in (42 mm) tall and 2.3 in (60 mm) wide. They can be filled with ten different types of content - e.g. Media (including cover image) or Phone (including image of the conversational partner). In addition, it is possible to use the entire surface of the home screen for one function - to show the navigation map in large format, to show special instruments of the Off-road mode (steering angle, compass, elevation indicator) or to show, via App Connect, the smartphone apps of Mirror Link™, Android Auto™ (Google) or CarPlay™ (Apple).

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen is beginning 2016 with victories in a brace of influential industry honours.

Today (13 January) Volkswagen is receiving two trophies at the renowned What Car? Awards in London with success for both the Passat Estate GTE (Best Electric Car) and new Touran (Best MPV). Meanwhile, the Volkswagen up! takes a ‘price point’ honour in the publication’s Best City Car class.

The class wins in the respected automotive awards – now in their 39th year – continue a positive start to the New Year for the brand in the UK which began with a category victory for the Golf R in The Sunday Times’ Top 100 Cars.

Scoring a win in the Electric Car ‘Best Buy £20,000-£40,000’ category, as well as taking overall honours in the Electric Car class, the expert What Car? judges said of the Passat Estate GTE: “This really is the kind of hybrid you could use every day without even thinking of it as an EV.

"The Passat GTE mixes a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and VW’s six-speed DSG automatic gearbox, and it shifts between the two power sources smoothly. The interior quality is every bit as good as on other Passats, there’s enough room for five adults to sit in comfort, and our preferred edition, the Estate, has a boot that’ll take all but the largest loads.

"Best of all, the Passat Estate GTE makes a great potential company car choice thanks to its official CO2 emissions of just 39g/km and a benefit-in-kind tax rate of 5%.  It’s easily the best family hybrid we’ve seen to date.”

Awarding the Passat Estate GTE overall honours in its class, the judges added: “It feels like the sort of executive car that you could drive to and from work on electric power, then turn into a carry-all family car to travel the length of the country at weekends. It has space, a beautifully finished cabin, and succeeds in integrating its technology so well that you needn’t even be aware that it’s there.”

Turning to the hotly-contested MPV class the What Car? judges said of the new seven-seat Touran – winner of the Best Buy £16,000-£26,000 section in 1.6 TDI 110 Bluemotion Tech SE form as well as overall victor in the MPV category: “This new Volkswagen Touran is great to drive, classy-feeling inside and has better safety credentials than most of its rivals.

“It’s also exceptionally practical. It contains more useful space than similarly priced rivals. This roominess extends to the third row of seats, where even taller adults will be comfortable enough. VW’s seven-seater isn’t just about outright roominess, though.  Its five rear seats are easy to erect and stow into the boot floor, and those dimensions make getting in and out easier than it is in the majority of rivals.”

The judges added: “There are cheaper and bigger MPVs, but none that so brilliantly balances all of the things that matter to big families. Crucially, Volkswagen’s latest seven-seater is more practical than all of its similarly priced rivals, is better to drive and beats them all hands-down for interior quality and ease of use.”

Meanwhile, just ten days prior to the What Car? Awards, the high performance Golf R took top spot in the ‘Hot Hatches’ category of The Sunday Times’ Top 100 Cars, with the judges commenting: “Surrounded by solid Golf, cushioned by the surprisingly comfortable suspension and isolated from bumps by the steering wheel you know that you’re in control.”

Discussing the What Car? Awards success Alex Smith, Director of Volkswagen UK, said: “Clearly it is very encouraging to see two of our newest models recognised for their respective strengths against the best cars in their classes.”

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Bringing gesture control to mass production cars:

The e-Golf Touch has some surprises in store with a new infotainment system of the next generation

Volkswagen will offer one of the world's first compact cars to feature gesture control

The new infotainment system has a configurable 9.2-inch home screen

Ten key facts - e-Golf Touch / Infotainment news

1. Volkswagen presents the world premiere of the close-to-production version of a newly developed infotainment system generation.
2. The top system of the new infotainment generation will also be launched with gesture control in compact cars.
3. The infotainment system presented in the e-Golf Touch is - apart from a few details - already the system that is set to go into the future production model.
4. The new top system has a high resolution 9.2-inch touchscreen (1280 x 640 pixels) with a stylish glass surface.
5. The new top system's home screen can be configured, and the display content can be displayed in function tiles.
6. These function tiles on the 9.2-inch screen can be configured to contain content on ten different themes (e.g. Music or Phone).
7. Volkswagen plans to launch a new voice control system with an improved control concept for the Golf in the early summer.
8. New "electronic voice amplification" will make it much easier to communicate with the passengers sitting in the back.
9. In future, it will be possible to save the personalization of a Volkswagen in the cloud and thus transfer it to other cars.
10. Smartphone notifications will also make it possible to read and reply to SMSs while driving.

To the point - Volkswagen at the CES 2016

Wolfsburg / Las Vegas, January 2016. Volkswagen is represented at the CES 2016 with two ground-breaking, progressive cars: the zero-emission BUDD-e van and the e-Golf Touch, which is also an electric vehicle. BUDD-e is a concept car that will take show visitors on a time journey to the year 2019. The e-Golf Touch, on the other hand, with an infotainment system of the latest generation, shows that technologies that still seemed to be a long way off in the future at the 2015 CES are already close to production readiness just a year later. Beyond that, there will be numerous electronic solutions making their debut at this year's CES in Las Vegas, which will also be introduced in series production in the near future. The new developments presented at the CES by Volkswagen illustrate how the car is currently undergoing immense transformation. These changes originate from various sources, but they all follow the same compass: electronics. They control the drive, which will be electric increasingly often in the future. They make assistance systems that can react faster than a human being possible. They bring the Internet into the car and put the car online, and they transform the instruments, displays and controls. Displays that are as clear as glass herald a new, clean style of car instrument panels as the visible level of the Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) of the future. Interactive HMI functions make new communication channels between humans and cars possible. It is also undeniable that the electronic devices that have become omnipresent in our everyday lives - such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and cameras - are also making their way into the car. Their potential benefits and operating patterns blend with those of the car. This process of fusion is accelerated by ever more powerful computers and more intelligent software. This results in evolutionary leaps that, as already mentioned above, are set to transform the motor car. The CES, as a regular event that takes place every January in Las Vegas, reflects the most important developments in the world of electronics. This is being underscored this year by the world premieres of two of the most extraordinary Volkswagens ever:

• The BUDD-e is the first Volkswagen concept car based on the new Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB). This zero-emission van gives us a glimpse of how Volkswagen defines automotive avant-garde and sustainability as we head towards the end of the current decade. (See separate press kit.)
• The e-Golf Touch - also a zero-emission vehicle - with a next generation infotainment system, reflects one of the key connectivity trends of the immediate future: intuitive gesture control, which is set to find its way into nearly every segment of the automotive sector thanks to manufacturers such as Volkswagen and models like the best-selling Golf.

Golf Touch - Bringing gesture control to mass production cars

The Infotainment Toolkit of a new generation. The Golf R Touch concept car shown at CES 2015 was the first mass production car from Volkswagen to feature a gesture control system. With the e-Golf Touch in January 2016, Volkswagen now presents a more advanced generation of the Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB) and thus, for the first time, an early series-production status of this intuitive control technology. The e-Golf Touch features the new top system of the MIB with a 9.2-inch high resolution display (1280 x 640 pixels). All of the functions and displays are embedded in a sophisticated, clear glass surface; on the left - facing the driver - there are four touch-sensitive buttons (Menu, Home, Car, App) and a rotary/push-button control. The top system's home screen 8.2"/209 mm wide and 4.1"/104.6 mm high, consists of a large main area as well as two configurable tiles (on the right of the home screen), each of which is 1.7"/42 mm high and 2.4"/60 mm wide. They can be assigned any of ten different functions - for instance Media (incl. the cover art) or Telephone (incl. a photo of the person you are calling). Beyond that, it is also possible to drag the main area to fill the entire home screen, for example to display the navigation map as large as possible or to display the smartphone apps such as MirrorLink™, Android Auto™ (Google) or CarPlay™ (Apple) using Volkswagen's App-Connect.

Voice control perfected. The e-Golf Touch will also feature the debut of Volkswagen's latest generation of voice control technology. This system will impress with its significantly improved control concept, as the voice commands implemented and recommended in the relevant dialog are simultaneously displayed on the screen to accompany the command in a new format, meaning that the user can always see which voice commands make sense in a given situation. The new version of the voice control system will already be launched in the early summer of 2016 in the first markets such as the USA.

• Voice control with keyword activation. As well as that, Volkswagen will also be the first manufacturer to present the new Keyword Activation voice recognition function in the e-Golf Touch. This feature allows the driver to start voice recognition simply by saying something like "Hello Volkswagen" to the system, instead of having to press a button, as customary in the past.

Wireless charging. In the context of electric cars, we automatically think of inductive charging of the car battery when we hear the term wireless charging, but in the case of the e-Golf Touch, wireless charging refers to wireless charging of smartphones, as Volkswagen has integrated an inductive charging system into the mobile phone tray (under the infotainment system). And for the first time, it is also possible to charge smartphones by wireless charging in the back, too - in the rear armrests. Beyond that, the e-Golf Touch is also equipped with a new USB Type C port, which permits high speed USB data transfer, with the phone being charged simultaneously, which will drastically reduce the time it takes to charge it in the future.

Electronic voice amplification. The electronic voice amplification used in the e-Golf Touch improves the acoustics, making it easier for the driver and front-seat passenger to talk to the back-seat passengers. This system uses the hands-free microphone and the rear loudspeakers. The volume of the electronic voice amplification is automatically adjusted to suit the speed of the vehicle. If the music volume is very high, the volume of the electronic voice amplification is reduced.

Infotainment news - Next generation connectivity

Exit screen. There are already some displays on the infotainment system's home screen that are briefly displayed when parking, for example "Don't forget your telephone". The range of functions of this Exit screen is going to grow considerably: For the first time ever, the Exit screen will offer personalized, simplified access (One Touch) to functions that are relevant in the current situation before leaving the car. This makes it possible, for instance, to program the auxiliary heating system within a matter of seconds, as the infotainment system displays the predefined functions for a predetermined length of time. Volkswagen plans to offer the Exit screen in all future generations of vehicles. Analogously, an individually configurable Entry screen is also currently under development.

Personalization 2.0. The number of convenience and assistance systems and the associated range of configuration options increases with every new generation of vehicles. Many of these systems are individually adjusted and used by different drivers of the same car, meaning that a lot of personal settings need to be constantly reset. Volkswagen conceived Personalization 2.0 to make this simpler.

This allows the individual settings for one driver to be saved in a user account and saved to the cloud using Volkswagen Car-Net ID. If that driver then gets into another compatible Volkswagen, they can simply call up his Car-Net ID settings in its infotainment system and activate them in the new car in a flash. This effectively means that drivers always have their own individual settings with them - which is especially handy for using rental cars or switching between company cars. Using the Volkswagen Car-Net ID app it is also possible to change your settings in your user account and save the changes in the cloud. You can also use the app to familiarize yourself with a new Volkswagen in advance. Of course, all of the user's data is protected against unauthorized access by third parties and can also be deleted in next to no time.

Media control generation 3.0. The Volkswagen Media Control app allows you to control almost all of the main infotainment functions conveniently using your tablet. Volkswagen Media Control is thus a kind of rear-seat entertainment system of the future. Simply connect the tablet via the WiFi hotspot with the infotainment system and you're done. Controllable systems here include the radio, all media sources (e.g. USB, CD, DVD, hard drive, online song search) and navigation. At the CES Volkswagen is now presenting the third generation of Media Control. It is set to be launched on the market early this summer. The following new functions have now been added:

• Video streaming between tablets with remote control.
• Remote control of the media playing on tablets via the infotainment system. This makes it possible, for example, to play a movie simultaneously on two separate tablets in the back - the most typical use when travelling with children.
• Audio streaming a playlist via tablet or smartphone to the infotainment system (synchronized audio playback via the car's loudspeakers). The current playlist can by customized by all of the users of the app who have a suitable device and are also in the car.

App Connect & WiFi. App Connect reflects the compatible apps on a smartphone on the screen of the infotainment system. For example, the iPhone: If the smartphone is linked to the infotainment system, the Telephone app can be used via the infotainment system's touchscreen with the accustomed graphics and operating structure, just like on the iPhone. Similarly, Apple's Siri voice control app or the Maps and Music apps can also be used. Using App Connect and the integrated platforms MirrorLink™, Android Auto™ (Google) and CarPlay™ (Apple) it is compatible with all current smartphones above Android 5.0 and Apple iOS 8.1. So far, however, it has been necessary to connect the smartphone to the infotainment system using a cable, whichever platform was concerned. Volkswagen's presentation of App Connect & WiFi, and thus the wireless second generation of App Connect (initially in conjunction with CarPlay™ Wireless and MirrorLink™ 1.2 Miracast) at CES 2016, is a genuine world premiere. Once the function has been set up, the smartphone can even be left in the user's handbag or jacket pocket. On longer journeys it is, of course, advisable to put the smartphone in the Volkswagen's inductive charging cradle - which is also wireless - to supply it with power.

Volkswagen Car-Net. The various online services offered by Volkswagen Car-Net include the packages Guide & Inform, Security & Service, App Connect and e-Remote. At the CES, Volkswagen now presents numerous new programs and feature add-ons for Volkswagen Car-Net. In future it will also be possible to integrate a smartwatch.

• e-Remote becomes Volkswagen Car-Net App. The Car-Net app e-Remote - which was developed for Volkswagen's plug-in hybrid and electric cars - will be reconfigured and will in future also be available for gasoline and diesel-powered cars. As part of this process, the app's functions are being expanded to give the multifunction program itself a new name: Volkswagen Car-Net App. One of the new functions is called Calendar Import. The clever thing about this is that when information about a destination is imported from your smartphone (via Facebook events or Google Calendar), the data can be transferred to the navigation system's Frequent Routes menu in the order of the calendar entries, if so desired. From here the data can then be integrated directly in the route guidance. Another new extension is Intelligent Route Planning, where the app calculates the optimum route to several selected POIs. For example: The driver enters several different shops as POIs in a certain order - for instance a shoe shop, a jeweler's and a supermarket. The Volkswagen Car-Net App then automatically suggests the best route and then sends it to the infotainment system.
• New app for MirrorLink™. A fun and extremely useful new program for MirrorLink™ is called My Rules. My Rules helps to get things done, because with this app you can program everything in simple steps, allowing you to tailor it to suit your own needs. The principle behind the app is: basically just "if this, then that". Here are three examples of this programming, or simply data input, that cause an event during the journey to result in an interaction with the car. Example 1: refueling/reserve indicator lights up: "Take me to the nearest gas station, as soon as the reserve indicator on the fuel gauge lights up." Example 2: the temperature is above 25°C/the weather forecast is sunny: "Play the song 'Summer in the City'." Example 3, it's the weekend and the car is approaching a supermarket: "Message‚ don't forget the weekend shopping."
• Feature add-ons. For Volkswagen, the focus of the feature add-ons is on the service aspect. For example, the new Service assistant recommends switching to winter tires due to persistent low temperatures; the Charging assistant for electric cars shows the next charging stations that are within range and indicates how long it will take to charge; the Accident Note app, meanwhile, helps to record all the necessary information, should the worst happen; the Parking Position service shows where the car is parked on your smartphone and can even show how to get there on foot using Google Street View; the Route Info app suggests charging stations that are along the planned route and provides information on the applicable road traffic rules when you cross a national border; and last but not least, the Calendar assistant can be used to manage the availability of a shared company car online with your colleagues.

Smartphone notifications. Almost everyone had this experience before while driving: Your smartphone buzzes and flashes to notify you that a new voicemail or a newsletter with an urgent update has been received, but it is impossible to check the message, because - as we all know - it is not only illegal but also dangerous to use a smartphone while driving. Now Volkswagen has come up with a solution that allows drivers to stay informed, legally and without being distracted - with smartphone notifications. It works like this: as soon as the smartphone is linked to the infotainment system by WiFi, the messages (notifications) received by the smartphone are briefly displayed on the instrument cluster and the infotainment system's display as a pop-up menu. If the driver wants to know more, the notification can also be read aloud completely. At speeds below 5 km/h (3 mph) the whole notification is displayed. Above 6 km/h (4 mph) this function is deactivated for safety reasons, in which case only the headlines or the first few words of the message are displayed.

• Social media notifications.Beyond this, Volkswagen will present a two-stage extension of the smartphone notifications at CES in Las Vegas, which will not only allow the driver to have social media notifications from Facebook and Twitter displayed, but also to reply to them right away.
• Step 1:The driver can reply to Facebook and Twitter messages that are displayed as a pop-up message, as described above, using the reply option while driving. The reply options correspond to those we are accustomed to in social networks (for instance like retweeting). In the future it will also be possible to reply by voice command. At speeds below 5 km/h (3 mph) it is also possible to enter free text using a keyboard.
• Step 2: In the second stage of the extension, the car will be given its own identity and thus a Twitter account. On the basis of its own timeline the car can then post messages itself, although the driver will still have to approve them. If the current speed falls below 20 km/h (12 mph) for a predetermined length of time, the car could, for example, post: "Damn, there's a jam! Sorry guys, I'm going to be late. I'm just crawling along at 10 miles an hour." If the temperature falls below 0°C when ESP is active, the message could be: "Hey guys, drive carefully. It's -2°C here and really slippery! #Thanks, ESP." This allows friends and family who are "friends" with the car to automatically stay informed about the state of the car and road conditions.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk