Volvo XC90 – next-gen in-car control system revealed

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After showing the interior of the next-generation Volvo XC90 last week, Volvo has now released details of the in-car control system that will be used on the seven-seat SUV, which will be unveiled in full in August. The company claims the new system is easier to use than traditional controls and allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road more of the time.

The system replaces the usual array of buttons with a large, tablet-esque portrait touchscreen on the centre console, a head-up display and steering wheel controls, and will also make use of “state-of-the-art” voice control.

To help drivers get to grips with this new and doubtlessly unfamiliar way of controlling the car’s functions, the new user interface, part of the Sensus family of infotainment systems, incorporates the latest touchscreen hardware and software to help drivers understand the controls and use them instinctively.

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“Using the screen is so logical that it will become part of your muscle memory very quickly,” said Volvo senior vice president of research and development Dr Peter Mertens. “Information, navigation and media are high up and easy to check. The phone controls, application icons and climate controls are located low and are comfortable to reach and touch.”

The touchscreen layout features a stack of flexible tiles, with navigation on top, followed by media and telephone. There is a thin notification band on top, and climate controls on the bottom. When tapped, a tile expands and shows extended functionality, but the others are still visible and accessible, negating the need for a main menu or to flip through separate menus to operate different functions.

“The adaptive digital instrument cluster and the head-up display make sure that the most relevant information is always available where the driver needs it,” said senior vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath.

The next XC90 will offer a suite of connected services, such as an Ericsson-based cloud solution and a navigation system by the Nokia-owned mapping company HERE, which can remotely update content. Also on offer are a number of cloud-based applications which vary depending on the market, including Internet radio, music streaming and the world’s first integrated Park-and-Pay application.

“The XC90 will not only tell you when it’s time to visit the garage but also suggest an appointment for you at your Volvo dealership,” said vice president of electrics/electronics & e-propulsion engineering Dr Thomas M. Müller. “The Connected Service Booking application is the first step in making the dealer workshop fully integrated into the connected eco-system.”

Also included for the first time on a Volvo is Apple CarPlay, a separate user interface that gives drivers direct access to their iPhone’s calls, messages, music and navigation.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Usin Kangkong (Member) on Jun 04, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    First to comment yabedabeduuu! ;P

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 7
  • DrCooper on Jun 04, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    Not that I questioned Volvo reliability but I don’t think including a climate controls into the system is a wise idea. We mostly want it to be directly controlled via physical button instead maneuvering the screen for its setting.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4
  • tawil on Jun 04, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    this volvo car touchscreen and aircon vent resemble the new Proton GSC .

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 12
  • seancorr on Jun 04, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Wow, that’s a gorgeous looking cabin. Thumbs up for the new XC90.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • Wow.. Nice.. Totally fresh, no longer using the floating dash panel.. But its starting to lose its volvo-ness here..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • Jaybond on Jun 04, 2014 at 5:38 pm

    As an ex-Swedish Motor staff, I personally would really like to see the new replacement model for the curent S80 (not an SUV though)..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • sudonano (Member) on Jun 04, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    This is probably the most beautifully designed cabin in ages. Really can teach the Germans a thing or two about design and comfort with this.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • bisakeris (Member) on Jun 04, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    looks like proton gsc’s center console!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 7
  • amirzaheenminhaj on Jun 04, 2014 at 8:10 pm

    very tesla’ish screen..hehehe…but please include a seperate aircond control…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • rosli on Jun 05, 2014 at 1:09 am

    the voice command, phone operations are already in our Malaysian market via BMW 3 and 5 series since 2010. i really like these features as they allow the driver to focus on the road without lifting our hands off the steering

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Josh Ling on Jun 05, 2014 at 6:04 am

    i had used several touchscreen-based or semi-touchscreen controllers in a car before, and despite all the claims, i still need more attention than i like whenever i want to navigate them or just do some adjustment to the car. there’s no way i could do what i wanted to do, except maybe some basic functions, without taking my eyes off the road for a while, and that’s not cool.

    and after seeing the first video, especially towards the end where the driver would have to physically using his/her finger to scroll down the list of airports he/she was heading, and select the exact one. and with a screen that small inside the meter clusters, there’s no way he/she could do it while still focusing fully on the road. ya right, like he/she could remember which one down the list that is the exact airport, and could just select it without even looking through the list.

    so i am a little reserved about the whole system, especially on the “won’t need too much attention from the driver, and will be easy to navigate and use” part. we’ll see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • kacimara on Jun 05, 2014 at 10:13 am

    kalau ak kaya inilah salah sebuah kereta yg akan ak beli.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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