Volkswagen Golf R Touch concept debuts at CES

Volkswagen has pulled the wraps off its latest innovation at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This new system has been designed by the German carmaker to reduce distraction while driving by making several functions controllable through touchscreens and sensor switches.

The German carmaker has developed the R Touch concept to give a glimpse of the interior cabin of future models. The concept features an evolution of Volkswagen’s infotainment systems with support for gesture control and a significantly larger touchscreen display.

The Golf R Touch concept receives a high-resolution 12.8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Beneath it, sits an eight-inch touch Control Centre from where the driver controls the climate, media and vehicle functions. The conventional dials have been replaced by a 12.3-inch Active Information Display featuring digitised instruments.

The German carmaker states that the central touchscreen and 12.3-inch Active Info Display has customisable layouts. The on-board gesture control unit makes use of a 3D camera which is installed within the roof lining of the car's interior. If the driver touches the roof, the digital controls for the sunroof show up on the big 12.8-inch screen. Gestures such as moving the hand from front to the rear open the sunroof while a reverse movement closes the same.

To make the concept even more interesting the company repeats the same innovative technology with the seats as well. The seats, too, can be adjusted using hand gestures. For example, when the driver runs his hand along the seat’s side, the central display will show the seat adjustment controls which grants him and the front passenger the possibility of modifying seat position through the screen.

Volkswagen has also stated that its on-board ambient lighting supports a whopping 1.67 crore colour combinations. No exact dates have been given by the carmaker for the tech's debut on road-going models as of now.