Currently reading: New Volkswagen Golf R Touch revealed at CES

Volkswagen offers a look at the dashboard of the future with this upgraded 292bhp Golf R, which is on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Volkswagen has offered visitors to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas a glimpse of the dashboard of the future with the unveiling of its new five-door Golf R Touch.

The production-based concept showcases ideas that Volkswagen's design team is currently pursuing for the dashboard architecture of future models. The program is intended to dispense with traditional controls and bring the operating experience more into line with that of modern day electronic items such as smartphones and tablets.

Fitted with three separate display units set within a modified version of the standard Golf R’s dashboard, the US-specification 292bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol-engined hatchback showcases a combination of both gesture and touch controls.  

VW says the concept is aimed at providing safer and more intuitive controls while also providing the scope for added personalisation through a wider combination of colours and graphics.

Included is a 12.8-inch high-resolution touchscreen which is mounted in the upper part of the centre console and is used to control the multimedia system. Underneath it is an 8.0-inch display with haptic feedback that houses controls for the vehicle settings, air conditioning and ancillary functions.

Also featured on the Golf R Touch is a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, dubbed Active Info Display by Volkswagen, in similar in style to that offered as an option on the new Passat.   

A further highlight is a gesture control unit that uses a 3D camera mounted within the roof lining. When the driver touches the roof the digital controls for the sunroof appear in the main 12.8-inch display.

A simple hand movement from front to rear then serves to open to the sunroof, while a reverse hand movement from rear to front then sees the sunroof close.

A similar gesture control also provides adjustment of the seats. When your hand runs along the side of the seat, the adjustment controls appear in the upper central monitor, allowing the driver and front seat passenger to alter their seating position via the digital display.

As part of Volkswagen's efforts to provide greater personalisation possibilities in future models, its designers have provided the Golf R Touch with an extensive choice of displays and colour schemes, including a welcome display when it is opened and started and a shut down display when the car is switched off. The ambient lighting is claimed to provide the scope for no less than 16.7 million different colour combinations.

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Moparman 6 January 2015

Exactly what is not needed

Something without buttons to properly interface with the car quickly. The only way to do this properly is to mount it higher and include a version of the screen on a heads up display which will also detract the driver from the road. We are regressing to the days when a car needed two people to safely travel anywhere but, instead of a mechanic, we will need a certified IT operator.
catnip 6 January 2015

Now that you can't see

Now that you can't see comments after the first full page I'm risking no-one being able to read this, but here goes............ I remember when ergonomics used to be important when designing a car interior, especially from a safety point of view. As others have said, buttons, dials and switches offer the driver tha ability to alter controls quickly and easily with only a quick glance away from the road, but every review I read of cars with touch screen functions seems to indicate problems in this respect. Manufacturers aren't introducing this sort of technology because it offers any advantages, they're worried that the younger generations aren't as interested in cars so they're just trying to be fashionable and attract customers. Even Volvo, who I used to have safety at their core, have replaced the climate controls with a touchscreen on the new XC90. Money talks.
typos1 6 January 2015

Ah, I see we cant edit our

Ah, I see we cant edit our posts anymore, just like we cant view large pictures now either, thanks for these "improvements" Autocar.
simonali 7 January 2015

typos1 wrote:Ah, I see we

typos1 wrote:

Ah, I see we cant edit our posts anymore, just like we cant view large pictures now either, thanks for these "improvements" Autocar.

I wrote something here yesterday about the picture sizes being stupidly small now and got turfed out by this Molloy system for being a spammer! If this post doesn't work either I'll be looking for a new browser homepage...