All-New 2013 Audi A3's Interior

In a similar way that General Motors used the presentation of its new CUE infotainment system to reveal the dashboard of its Cadillac XTS back in October, Audi brought a cutaway of its upcoming 2013 A3's interior to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to display its current technologies and future projects. We'll get to the technological features later on, but for now, let's concentrate on the design of the dashboard that will find its way on all body styles of the next A3 including the three door hatchback, five door Sportback, four-door sedan and two-door convertible models.
The styling is typical Audi and closely resembles that of the smaller A2 series albeit polished up with decorative trims plus a more upscale instrument panel and center dash. The latter is also angled more towards the driver.
In addition, the lower console is positioned much higher than were used to in mainstream models like the A3.
But there's a reason for that. Among the many features introduced in the new A3 is an electromechanical parking brake and the next generation of Audi's MMI infotainment system, with the controls for both systems located on the center tunnel console.
The central component of the MMI is the touchwheel that merges the touchpad and rotary pushbutton into a single unit for the first time. Audi says that the round pushbutton has a cap with a touch-sensitive surface that allows users to enter characters by finger movement.
There are also two rocker switches in front of the touchwheel that directly operate the most important areas of Telephone/Navigation and Media/Radio respectively, while a Menu key and a Back key complete the MMI's key set.
Audi says it has also revamped the MMI's interface while there's also a new 7-inch LED screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels that delivers 3D graphics, and which extends electrically from the top of the dashboard above the center console.
There's also a new Audi Phone Box that can couple any type of cell phones to the vehicle.
Audi also proposed a conceptual multiple head-up display (HUD), with the driver, front and rear passengers all getting their own HUDs on the windshield, though we're not so sure how that would work from a safety perspective (unless the driver can't see the other displays).

[From Audi Press Release]
The driver and front passenger each have their own head-up display available to them; the driver’s is contact-analogue, while the passenger has a conventional head-up display. Both displays show digital travel guides, news and pictures from video telephone calls. In the interest of safety, the driver is shown only static images and simple animations. If the passenger uses a wiping motion to pull the applications into his or her line of vision, all video functions become available.
Visible to all occupants is a central third projection, whose image appears to lie on the windshield. The driver or front passenger can move contents they are currently viewing to this central field with an easy, quick movement so that they can view it together. A camera detects the movements and directs the appropriate signals to the system.

The new A3 will be revealed this year, possibly as early as the Geneva Motor Show in March.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

New Toyota Yaris Hybrid Makes its First Appearance Online in Geneva

While on one side of the pond (Detroit) Toyota was debuting the new Prius C subcompact hybrid, on the other side the Japanese brand was announcing the production version of its new Yaris Hybrid with the release of the first pictures ahead of the car's public debut the Geneva Motor Show in March. The production model follows the presentation of the Yaris HSD Concept at last year's edition of the Geneva Salon.
Compared to the prototype, the Yaris Hybrid's appearance has been toned down a notch though it does feature the same design for the front bumper with the massive lower grille.
The Yaris Hybrid features the same powertrain as the Prius C combining a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine with a new electric motor, transaxle, inverter and battery pack, for a total system output of 98bhp (74kW).
Toyota says the revised system is 20% lighter than that of an Auris Hybrid, which was the brand's first core model to be offered with a hybrid setup in Europe.
According to the Japanese automaker, thanks to the reduction in size of all the key components, as well as the location of the fuel tank and hybrid battery under the rear seat, the Yaris Hybrid offers the same interior space and 286-litre luggage capacity as its regular siblings.
The new Yaris Hybrid will go on sale in Europe later this year.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

VW E-Bugster Study Zooms into the Detroit Auto Show

If you liked Volkswagen's approach with the new Beetle then chances are you're going to give a thumbs up to the E-Bugster study that made its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show this week. Wider, lower and sportier looking that the regular Beetle, the concept's name blends the words "E" (for electric), "Bug" and "speedster". It's closest relative is the similarly styled Ragster study back from 2005.
The strictly two seater model is propelled by an electric motor with a power output of 85 kW (114HP) and a lithium-ion battery that enables a minimum driving range of 180 km (112 miles) in zero emissions model.
The battery itself weight 695 pounds (315 kg) and is stored under the trunk floor and the rear bench. VW says that it can accommodate all three types of available chargers: Level 1 (120V), Level 2 (240V), and Level 3 in which case an 80 percent charge can be achieved in 30 minutes.
The German company won't tell us if it has any plans to produce a pure electric version of the Beetle, but the E-Bugster's propulsion system will find its way in various future products including the already confirmed Golf Blue-e-Motion.

VIDEO

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

New Shiro Edition Tops Nissan Juke Range in Europe

To be honest, when we first heard the name of the Nissan Juke’s new edition we thought it was a tribute to the brand’s senior vice president and head of design, Shiro Nakamura, who has penned, among other models, the GT-R, the 350Z, the Murano and the Infiniti FX45. But we were wrong to think so. Shiro in Japanese means white, and that’s the name Nissan though was appropriate for the Juke’s new range topping version in Europe.
Your eyes don’t deceive you: the car you see in the pictures is not white, as one would expect, but maroon. Nissan claims that the specific edition takes its name from the white color of the center console and door armrest along with the white stitching on the leather steering wheel, gear lever and outer edges of the seats.
"Juke is all about individual choice. It's different to other cars in the class and that individuality has appealed to buyers right across Europe”, said Juke product manager for Europe, Gareth Dunsmore. “Juke Shiro, with its distinctive white accented interior, gives those buyers another opportunity to create a Juke that suits their own personal style and taste."
The Juke Shiro is based on the Tekna edition and is available with every engine in the model’s range right up to the 190HP 1.6-liter turbocharged unit that is optionally available with all-wheel drive.
Standard specification includes ESP, six airbags, keyless entry with start button, automatic climate control, heated front seats, folding mirrors, automatic lights and wipers and rear privacy glass.
An accessory package, with a central armrest with white stitching, front chrome-plates sill protectors with white illumination, and velour mats will be available in the standard or optional equipment list, according to the market.

PHOTO GALLERY

 

Read More