Audi AG, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, has its take on three future automotive trends on display at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show: electrification, digitalization and piloted driving.

With a focus on user-friendly operation, the four-ringed brand is expanding its operating and display concept (HMI, or human-machine interface) with new solutions, including new display concepts, advanced connectivity and new driver-assist functions.

Audi has an interior model on display that shows off a new Multi Media Interface (MMI) with a 14.1-inch curved AMOLED display with integrated haptic feedback. The central MMI is actually two screens: a lower screen for climate control and support for finger-writing letters and an upper touchscreen for the audio and navigation systems.

The new MMI with “MMI-touch response” will feel familiar to drivers, as it recognizes gestures commonly found in consumer electronics – think swipe, tap, pinch and stretch gestures you use on your smartphone.

Audi e-tron quattro concept – outlook on future interior design for HMI, connectivity and infotainment

Connectivity is improved through the next-gen Modular Infotainment Platform, MIB2+, and includes LTE Advanced support and the ability to control several high-res displays.

Audi is also expanding support for its MMI connect app to the fourth-gen Apple TV in 2016. Audi drivers who use the app on their iPhone to lock/unlock their car, set the climate control, or check the status of their car, will now be able to do so from the comfort of their lounge.

In addition, Audi is growing its connect portfolio to include Car-to-X services. In the U.S., the service “traffic light information online” connects the car via the mobile phone network to the central traffic computer that controls the traffic lights in the city.

The company is also showing off its fully electric, 310-mile range Audi e-tron quattro SUV concept (pictured above), due for production in 2018.

The Audi e-tron quattro concept boasts piloted driving functions, including piloted driving in traffic jams and piloted parking. Piloted driving functions are managed by a central driver assistance controlled, called the zFAS. The zFAS collects data from 3D cameras, a laser scanner and radar and ultrasonic sensors and compares it to a model of the road space and its surrounding to determine automated driving actions.

For the road space models, Audi will rely on “highly up-to-date cloud data” in the HERE database. Audi AG, the BMW Group and Daimler AG acquired HERE from Nokia in December 2015.

Audi also showed off new lighting concepts, including Matrix OLEDs for brake and turn signals, new Matrix laser technology for headlights, and 3D OLED taillights.

The ‘swarm’: OLEDs arranged as a display transform the rear end of the car into an illuminated surface. The fluctuating points of light, only a few pixels in size, can be energized individually.

Lastly, Audi also wants to manage and improve drivers’ health by monitoring things like heart rate, blood pressure and more via connected fitness trackers and smartwatches with its new Audi Fit Driver system.

Sources: Audi; Carscoops

Images via Audi