LAS VEGAS -- The focus of concept cars has recently moved from the exterior design to the dashboard, and Volkswagen joined that trend on Monday by revealing its Golf R Touch concept cockpit.
The main idea behind the company's concept dashboard is its gesture control interface, which would enable drivers to operate the car's system controls more intuitively.
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Volkwagen's system creates a kind of 3D mirror of your hand to more accurately determine the exact gestures you make while driving. The function is enabled by an in-car 3D camera module just above the windshield that tracks your hand movements.
In fact, there's a mode that lets you see a ghost-like image of your hand at work on the dash. So, drivers never actually have to touch the dashboard to make things happen. With the new interface, drivers can increase or decrease volume, change lighting and control other typical dashboard functions.
In addition to the main display, the Golf R Touch also comes with two additional displays: a 12.3-inch digital gauge and an 8-inch touchscreen just underneath the main dashboard display. One of the cooler aspects of that particular screen is that is comes with haptic feedback, so when you have to switch from gesture on the top screen to touch on the lower screen, you'll get a little force to remind you that you're in a different interface.
The gesture interface will also give drivers full access to MirrorLink, Volkswagen's dashboard app ecosystem, and will work with Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto.
Volkswagen did not reveal when the technology will be coming to its vehicles, but this early look at the concept dashboard is exciting enough that it may encourage would-be Volkswagen customers to remain patient.
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