Volkswagen Unveils Smartphone-On-Wheels Concept, Integration of Apple And Android App Systems

Volkswagen introduced the Golf R Touch, a high-tech concept car that functions like a smartphone on wheels.

Volkswagen introduced the Golf R Touch, a high-tech concept car that functions like a smartphone on wheels.

Volkswagen’s first ever appearance at CES press day culminated in the unveiling of the Golf R Touch, a highly intuitive, infotainment vehicle that sounds more like a smartphone-on-wheels than an actual car.

The Golf R Touch is a concept vehicle that utilizes an infotainment center with three screens and gesture control mechanisms aimed at making humans and machines interact as one.

“We took a lead from the consumer electronic interfaces used in smartphones and tablets to redefine our control systems,” Heinz-Jakob Neußer, member of the board of management for Volkswagen said during the unveiling.

Members of the media swarmed the Golf R Touch to test the vehicle's new gesture control mechanism.

Members of the media swarmed the Golf R Touch to test the vehicle’s new gesture control mechanism.

The concept car comes equipped with 12.8-inch and 8-inch center screen displays, as well as a 12.3-inch display that replaces the traditional instrument cluster currently found in vehicles.

While such a high-tech system seems a bit distracting, officials with the company say that isn’t the case.

In fact, they say the new concept is actually intended to reduce driver distraction with the addition of gesture controls. All functions that can be preformed on the touch-screen displays can also be carried out with hand gestured detected by cameras mounted in the roof control of the vehicle, Neußer said.

So in other words, when you’re turning down the heat in your new VW other drivers will just see an overly friendly waver behind the wheel.

In addition to showing off a car of the future, Volkswagen announced on Monday that it will begin offering smartphone integration from Apple and Google in vehicles this fall. Including CarPlay and Android Auto in vehicles will allow consumers to see the apps and operating layouts of their smartphones in their vehicle displays.

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.