The German automaker is working on a way to make the gauge cluster detachable, and you could put your smartphone in its place.
Volkswagen is working on a detachable driver info display, and in its place, you could put a larger, upgraded unit, or you could attach your smartphone or tablet. CarBuzz discovered the patent for the idea at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office, and it poses several potential benefits.
Volkswagen says that a removable gauge cluster/driver info display would allow customers to upgrade their cars after their purchase without ever affecting how the vehicle runs because this cluster would handle non-essential info (more on that in a moment).
Basically, you could buy a car with a certain screen size, and after three years, when better tech is available, you upgrade to a newer unit with more processing power, better images, and more size.
CarBuzz Volkswagen
This, says VW, would afford customers greater opportunities for customization. But wouldn't a removable driver info display be problematic if you forgot to bring it or lost it? Well, VW explains that behind the removable screen would be a more basic display, which would convey only essential driving information, such as speed, energy level (remaining gasoline or battery pack charge), headlight and direction indicator lights, and the selected transmission gear. That means the car would still be operable if you didn't have the detachable screen on hand, albeit with a more basic display.
The removable display would handle non-essential info such as navigation, music and media, and phone functions, leading us to this idea's next potential application.
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Instead of buying a new detachable display from the dealer, you could purchase a Volkswagen ID. Buzz with only the basic screen. The car would come with a docking station or another means of securing a display, which would be compatible with your smartphone.
We already have cars that can connect to various smartphones, so creating an interface for the phone (or tablet) to handle media, navigation, and phone functions would be easy. In fact, VW says that you could just download an app to make your device work, which means that the car itself would need little more than a Bluetooth, NFC (Near Field Communication), WiFi, or wired connection to interact with your phone.
Obviously, inductive charging would be possible, too, whether for your personal device or VW's detachable display.
But what's the point? Why does this matter?
CarBuzz CarBuzz/Ian Wright
For one thing, various attachments would make it possible to position the display in the perfect spots for people of varying heights and builds, preventing the steering wheel from obscuring their view. Volkswagen suggests a button on the steering wheel to interact with the detachable device, so once that is linked, you won't have any reason to touch your phone, bolstering safety.
Then there's the matter of cost-saving in manufacturing a new car, which should translate to more affordable offerings. There is also the possibility of a longer lifetime for the vehicle; with the ability to upgrade a car's physical components long beyond its sale, the car could stay on the road for more years, lowering the automaker's carbon footprint. Toyota is exploring a similar idea by offering retrofits of new tech to cars already sold to customers.
VW could allow customers to choose gauge layouts, color schemes, and fonts, making one's daily drive a little more interesting. As far as we can tell, this is a nearly production-ready idea. Should it hit the market?
CarBuzz/Ian Wright
Keyword: Volkswagen Wants Your iPhone To Replace The Gauge Cluster