9 views of the all-digital ‘virtual cockpit’ in the 2016 Audi TT

While you look at this 2016 Audi TT, the driver is looking at the ‘virtual cockpit, an all-digital instrument cluster powered by an embedded Visual Computing Module (VCM). Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor brings fast, 60fps response time to the 12.3-inch, 1,440×540-pixel display. That’s fast enough to play PC games—but here, that power helps the digital readouts react in real time to how the car is driving.

 It may sound gimmicky to some driving purists, but check out the views on the slides to follow. Everything from the classic tachometer and speedometer to Google Earth 3D maps looks pretty sweet on this display.

Here’s the “classic” view of the virtual cockpit, with the tachometer and speedometer in the forefront. In between, you can see a handy map of your current surroundings, enhanced by Google Earth 3D images. Smaller images for fuel, engine temperature, and other basic information run along the top and bottom.

The classic view of the virtual cockpit here shows the MMI infotainment interface between the larger tachometer and speedometer. You can control the MMI system using…

…the steering-wheel controls on the lefthand side. So you don’t even have to glance down to the standard MMI rotary and touchpad controls on the center console, but they’re there if you (or your passenger) need them.

Here’s the infotainment view in the 2016 Audi TT’s ‘virtual cockpit.’ The tachometer and speedometer don’t go away, but they shrink to cede more space to infotainment. Here you see the MMI interface.

This infotainment view shows how weather and other important data can come forward when you want it. Remember, this is a digital display, so you can change the view whenever you wish.

But what most drivers want in front of them is a map, and this is what it looks like on the ‘virtual cockpit’ display. The data is from the digital mapping service Here (which was recently purchased by a consortium of automakers, including Audi), but there’s a Google Earth visual overlay to make the map more visually accurate and lifelike. 

Here’s the most surprising Google Earth view: The open road in front of you, almost like you’re looking out the windshield twice. Okay, maybe you don’t really need to see what’s immediately ahead, but it shows off the quality of the image data available. 

This cross-cut of the 2016 Audi TT’s virtual cockpit module (front view) provides a peek at the computer behind the module, plus the special glare-reducing, 12.3-inch TFT display. Nvidia’s Visual Computing Module is shown below.

This rear view of the 2016 Audi TT’s virtual cockpit module shows where the Visual Computing Module fits, on the far right side. Somewhere in there is a second VCM to power just the navigation view.

Do you love the digital choices, or do you miss the real, mechanical dials? Let us know in the Comments.