Audi reveals 2014 TT interior at CES

To reveal a new car’s interior before we’ve even seen a concept sketch of the whole vehicle sketch seems odd. But nevertheless, that’s exactly what Audi has done with its 2014 TT, unveiling the car’s cabin at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The German firm’s choice of venue is significant, too, underlining how the new TT will “come with a new generation of electronics and connectivity features.”

On Bing: see pictures of the 2014 Audi TT

Find out how much a used Audi TT costs on Auto Trader

The new TT will feature the same “Audi virtual cockpit” as the Audi Sport Quattro laserlight concept – also unveiled at CES 2014 – representing the first appearance of the new tech  a production Audi.

Put simply, the “virtual cockpit” is a fully digital, widescreen display, which means the instrument binnacle is now much slimmer than the current TT’s dial housing.

According to Audi, the instrument panel “resembles an aeroplane wing,” while the accompanying air vents are ”set low and with a turbine look about them, the round air nozzles, a classic TT feature… reminiscent of jet engines.”

That explains where the design theme for the new car’s cabin has come from, then.

The huge 12.3-inch TFT screen gives drivers the choice of two display modes, with the classic view showing the speedometer and rev counter in the foreground.

Switching to infotainment mode makes these digital gauges smaller and pushes them to the sides, with functions like the satellite navigation map taking up the majority of the screen. Now you’ll never take the wrong turn again. Although we can’t promise you won’t break the speed limit.

The rest of the cabin echoes this sporty theme and takes inspiration from the current generation A3 family’s interior, the angle of the dash putting the focus firmly on the driver.

The steering wheel has a deep dish, with the “aluminium-look clips” highlighting its spokes and the wheel’s flat bottom.

As you’d expect from a modern Audi, drivers will have all the information available at their fingertips – literally – controlled by buttons on the steering wheel that operate a smartphone-like menu.

There’s an “MMI terminal” on the transmission tunnel to compliment this, consisting of a fairly conventional rotary controller and Audi’s usual toggle switches and buttons.

It has been simplified though, with the firm stating that in future all operations will be possible with just two buttons.

The TT is a sports car, so it’s fitting that Audi has also developed a new design of ‘S’ sports seats for the 2014 coupe.

The new shape chairs feature a big curve in their side bolster and integrated headrests – with pneumatically adjustable side bolsters, the seats should hold their occupants firmly enabling the driver thoroughly to explore the new TT’s as yet undetailed chassis.

Nobody will be able to do that for a while, however, as the mk3 TT is slated to make its debut later in 2014. The current car starts from £24,630, so expect its replacement to cost around £1,000 more.

On Bing: see pictures of the 2014 Audi TT

Find out how much a used Audi TT costs on Auto Trader

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Audi Sport Quattro laserlight concept

By motoringresearch.com