OpenRoad Driver Volume 12 Issue 1 | Page 41

Volume 12 Issue 1 » 39 Ask the Experts The 4 Best Infotainment Systems Words and photos by Benjamin Yong » If you’re old enough to remember, there was a time when the only thing inside a car that could be considered entertainment was an AM/FM radio. If you were really lucky, there might have even been a cassette or CD player. Those days are long gone, however, and automakers of all types are trying to create an inclusive high-tech environment where you can control your smart devices via your vehicle, and vice versa. These are some of the latest automotive information and entertainment systems available right now. Audi connect® The German manufacturer with the four rings calls its information and entertainment technology Audi connect®, part of the Multi Media Interface (MMI), which they describe as “all applications and developments that connect Audi models to the owner, the Internet, the infrastructure and other vehicles.” One of the first companies to provide broadband Internet on-the-go, Audi has expanded its services to include high-speed LTE support and WiFi hotspot connectivity. Working from the driver’s seat is no problem with text-to-speech functionality. Through a synced device, emails can be read aloud, and SMS can be sent using voice commands. To unwind, Audi music stream is able to play songs from a personal music library or from over 3,000 Internet radio stations. In the new Q7 and the upcoming TT, Audi is introducing the Virtual Cockpit, a replacement for the traditional instrument cluster. A 12.3-inch display resides where the speedometer and fuel gauge would normally sit,