Digital Dash

[Gingernick]

after picking up the new motor yesterday and skimming the manual..... can you change the increments on the speedometer?  so every 10mph instead of 20?

it seems a bit limited in styles given its digital and should be a bit more flexible.

[fredgroves]

Nope can't be done.

And yes, a lot of technical possibilities but for some reason.... probably the usual thing, the one where car manufacturers refuse to embrace computer technology except for where it saves them money.

I would say though, overall, the AID is definitely an improvement over the mechanical clocks of my Mk7 for me.... but just think of what it could have been...

[Hertsman]

Software development is an area involved in and amending the UI would be a pretty straightforward project for good developers and you imagine the issue is when you make the decision to update? Given the MK8 is likely quite advanced in components doubt very much there is any UI update to come on the MK 7.5

The UI they have produced is pretty basic and certainly has scope for a ton of improvements and sure the MK 8 will see a greatly lifted UI  given they are promoting the MK 8 as being technically advanced and the screen would be a centerpiece of that.

Personally like the dials - If cannot source an R at next changeover I might have to look at S3 which has lovely dials.

[AGB]

Software development is an area involved in and amending the UI would be a pretty straightforward project for good developers and you imagine the issue is when you make the decision to update? Given the MK8 is likely quite advanced in components doubt very much there is any UI update to come on the MK 7.5

The UI they have produced is pretty basic and certainly has scope for a ton of improvements and sure the MK 8 will see a greatly lifted UI  given they are promoting the MK 8 as being technically advanced and the screen would be a centerpiece of that.

Personally like the dials - If cannot source an R at next changeover I might have to look at S3 which has lovely dials.

I agree, the potential for improving the interface is huge. Can you imagine if they made the interface open source! I hate to think what would happen  That'll never happen!

There are some good examples of the potential for these interfaces at Car Dashboard and UX. It's frustrating that manufacturers are so slow to implement. I get the identity and evolution aspect but you can retain that while offering better customisation - the new 992 series 911 is a good example of this.

[fredgroves]

I suppose to offer a selection of different styles would be development cost that won't sell one more Golf, so rationally they won't spend the money.

Also, if you made it completely open, possibly people could do things that would create a display that was illegal and therefore the system/car itself wouldn't pass standards checks and be approved for sale. eg not enough contrast to clearly see the speedo.

Via ODB11 though you can select GTD/GTI/R/some other VW displays though - different colour palettes. Some people have done that.

Offering that as a menu option might have been nice.

My biggest frustration though is that when you set the units to km/h the main speedo dial doesn't change. The sub displays and ACC change though. I know there are rules around UK vehicles have speed displayed in MPH but it is really silly in this day and age. Not sure if ODB11 can fix that... would be interested if it did.

[AGB]

I suppose to offer a selection of different styles would be development cost that won't sell one more Golf, so rationally they won't spend the money.

Also, if you made it completely open, possibly people could do things that would create a display that was illegal and therefore the system/car itself wouldn't pass standards checks and be approved for sale. eg not enough contrast to clearly see the speedo.

Via ODB11 though you can select GTD/GTI/R/some other VW displays though - different colour palettes. Some people have done that.

Offering that as a menu option might have been nice.

My biggest frustration though is that when you set the units to km/h the main speedo dial doesn't change. The sub displays and ACC change though. I know there are rules around UK vehicles have speed displayed in MPH but it is really silly in this day and age. Not sure if ODB11 can fix that... would be interested if it did.

The development effort to apply different screens from a scroll or swipe mechanism is negligible. Legislation has not kept pace with innovation so you can satisfy legal requirements but still have a lot of latitude in how you implement the interface.

I still don't understand why you can't get a heads up display in a Golf GTI/R yet you can on a Tiguan. Surely prioritising the display of information in the right place at the right time makes sense and then it frees up screen real estate for secondary data i.e. fuel consumption, avg speed and so on. I find the digital speedometer on the MKVII to be far easier to keep an eye on than the manual speedometer but then it excludes me from having other data to hand that I might find useful when driving.

Making it completely open would be stupid, the comment was tongue in cheek. The lawyers in Wolfsburg would have a panic attack at the suggestion on the grounds of public liability alone.

Assume you're talking about a MK7.5 car regarding your comment about the main speedo dial?

[Hertsman]

The statements you read on the MK 8 are that ii will be a technical bonanza (not a good thing in my opinion the loss of switches and dials to touch and gesture is  ) and the media unit and the driver displays will be the obvious centerpieces to support the 'leap' in technology - If think about it, the bland interface now is a great platform to provide some wow from, and that maybe was even part of the thinking.

In terms of options to personalise the display it would have to be by configuration on a locked down O/S and given the nature of cars on the move, any interface updates in terms of look and feel would be on future models at the factory, the most that would be done is a software update at the dealer to iron out some bugs.

Not heard of this happening but with so much functionality moved to the O/S and screens not sure how you could drive the car if all blacked out as driving along 

[Will2018]

Quite happy with the digital dash but you do get the feeling it's been deliberately held back with the Audi offering being the more premium one.

[fredgroves]

With regard to HUD... yes Audi have it, but the availability of features and options flows down both through a manufacturers range and also across the group - because VAG have a hierarchy, off which, VW is tier #2.

Yes, I was talking about a Mk7.5 AID with the km/h clock issue.

I've not heard of the AID going blank yet - it was my fear when it came along, given how the MIB can crash and burn...

The Mk8 might look a bit different in AID, but I doubt it will have anything amazing. The amazing in the Mk8 will be the other panel that replaces the switches... be amazed as you like about that... I'm not gripped personally.

[mcmaddy]

I suppose to offer a selection of different styles would be development cost that won't sell one more Golf, so rationally they won't spend the money.

Also, if you made it completely open, possibly people could do things that would create a display that was illegal and therefore the system/car itself wouldn't pass standards checks and be approved for sale. eg not enough contrast to clearly see the speedo.

Via ODB11 though you can select GTD/GTI/R/some other VW displays though - different colour palettes. Some people have done that.

Offering that as a menu option might have been nice.

My biggest frustration though is that when you set the units to km/h the main speedo dial doesn't change. The sub displays and ACC change though. I know there are rules around UK vehicles have speed displayed in MPH but it is really silly in this day and age. Not sure if ODB11 can fix that... would be interested if it did.

You would need to try changing the country in instruments to RoW or Australia and see what happens Fred. You used to do this to enable the big digital speedometer but might enable or disable what your trying to do.