As more and more electronic gadgets and conveniences find their way into automobiles, it’s only natural that they’ll continue to look better and become easier to operate. Audi is taking another big leap forward with the latest version of its Multi-Media Interface technology, set to debut on the new Audi Q5 SUV.
Audi’s new Q5 sports navigation graphics empowered by chip maker Nvidia, along with a radically updated dashboard interface, which Audi calls the Multimedia Interface, or MMI. Integrated into the new navigation system is an automotive grade Nvidia graphics processing chip, allowing the Q5 to display 3D renderings of urban centers on its navigation system. Along with outlined buildings, some landmark buildings in major urban areas will be rendered with textures, making them easier for drivers to recognize from screen to real world. Audi is also including 3D topographics maps, so you can get an idea of what the terrain ahead looks like. Traffic conditions will also be displayed on the navigation system. In the Q5, the maps are shown on a seven inch screen with LED backlighting.
Also advancing the MMI system is an updated voice-recognition system that can locate destinations in the navigation system without the need to spell out cities, street names or businesses. Not only does the system recognize complete words, but it recognizes them in several languages. When using the vehicle’s phone system, the voice-recognition system will also recognize names and other text so you don’t have to create special voice tags for every entry. Speaking of entries, the system can now hold 2,000 entries with up to five different phone numbers each.
The latest MMI system isn’t all work and no play, though. In addition to the built-in jukebox, the system also features a DVD drive for watching movies while the vehicle is stopped. Check all the boxes and you’ll also get Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound for the best movie watching experience. Audi says the joystick control will make navigating through DVD menus extremely easy. When the vehicle is in motion, you can enjoy music from your hard drive or from a CD, an SD card or an iPod with the built-in connectors.
| 
|