Last year, Chris Angelini and I decided to spice up our trip to CES a little, making it more exciting. Instead of Chris driving to Vegas by himself and me hopping on a direct flight to Vegas, I flew into Los Angeles to pick up a press car and then drove to Bakersfield. Chris hopped in and we made our way to Sin City together. I wrote about our vehicle of choice in 2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition: The Gran Turismo Car.
We wanted something more comfortable and luxurious this year. It's a pretty long drive, after all. Style and comfort were necessities. So, we gave our friends at Bentley a call to see if we could borrow a Continental GT V8 for the week-long excursion. Along the way, I even picked up our new editor-in-chief, Fritz Nelson.
Armed with 500 hp, double-pane windows, and all-wheel drive, we set off to Vegas. It was a great way to start a show that featured more automotive technology than years past. Naturally, I spent a lot of time in the Las Vegas Convention Center's North Hall with companies like QNX, Qualcomm, and Nvidia. Join us as we explore the latest automotive technologies that caught our attention during CES 2014.
Rear-seat entertainment systems are typically behind the curve when it comes to technology. Heck, it wasn’t until the last year or two that manufacturers started offering Blu-ray playback and HDMI input back there. But in the age of streaming Internet media and $200 Google Nexus 7 tablets that are more capable, we may be facing the death of factory-installed systems that can cost thousands of dollars and only be purchased with pricey option packages.
Audi’s solution is a tablet called the Smart Display. The 10.2-inch device packs a Tegra 4 SoC and naturally runs Android. The car maker touts extreme temperature (-40 to 80 °C) and crash resistance, making it a more ideal permanent interior fixture than off-the-shelf alternatives. Of course, you're not looking at a pure Android environment; it's skinned to resemble Audi’s Multi Media Interface, though it operates like a standard Android-based tablet, too. The dockable Smart Display connects to the vehicle via in-car Wi-Fi and lets passengers access the infotainment system.
We didn’t get to spend a lot of time with Audi's tablet concept because the company's booth was absolutely packed. But if the Smart Display emerges with the same functionality as Audi's existing rear-seat system, sending navigation directions to the driver, navigating through Google Earth overlays, and so on, the addition of Android's operating environment should give passengers a truly unique experience.
After many years of Audi and Nvidia talking about their work together, we'll finally see an Audi vehicle with Tegra inside when the next-gen A3 and S3 start shipping. But the platform will only employ Tegra 2! We were understandably interested to get a preview of Audi's upcoming TT, slated for 2015, sporting a quad-core Tegra 3 SoC.
The interior we were shown completely eliminates Audi's MMI in the center stack, moving all infotainment functionality to the gauge cluster, which now consists solely of an LCD display. We have to reserve judgement until we get behind the wheel and decide if the relocation improves ease of use. But our early look suggests that this gauge cluster trumps most of the LCD-based designs we've seen so far.
Audi upgraded its Sport Quattro Concept with a set of laser headlights. We’re already big fans of Audi's LED headlights; they’re extremely bright and easily light up the road at night. This evolved configuration leverages that LED array for low beams, but kicks on laser diodes when you engage the high beams. According to Audi, its laser headlights throw light 1640 feet out, or three times as far as LED-based high beams. And apparently, these will be applied to production vehicles.
As cool as lighting technology is, I was actually more excited by the Sport Quattro Concept itself, which draws from Audi's rally heritage (specifically, the Quattro and Sport Quattro from the 80s). But unlike the original Quattro, the Sport Quattro Concept does away with Audi's iconic turbocharged inline-five and five-speed manual transmission, replacing them with a twin-turbo 4.0 L V8 with additional electric motors and a ZF eight-speed automatic. The powerplant generates a total of 700 hp.
BMW had its upcoming i8 Coupe on display at the Aria Hotel. The i8 is the sportiest offering in BMW's portfolio of eco-friendly vehicles. The hybrid combines a 1.5 L turbocharged three-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 357 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.
Oddly, the BMW i8 has two transmissions, a six-speed automatic for the engine and a two-stage automatic for the electric motor.
BMW showed up at CES with a fleet of i3s (not to be confused with Intel's Core i3) that it let show attendees take for a loop around the convention center parking lot. We snuck into one and took the extended press route.
I'll be honest; the i3 isn’t very pretty. It reminds me of something out of Total Recall. But futuristic looks aside, the car drives well. An electric powertrain offers plenty of torque, propelling the i3 up to 60 MPH quickly. I did find the regenerative braking very aggressive; taking a foot off of the gas slows the vehicle down quickly.
BMW adorns its cabin with sustainable and recycled materials. I'm personally not a fan. The leather pieces inside look great, but are then mated to a eucalyptus wood trim that could have come from an IKEA store.
BMW keeps the i3's weight under 2700 lbs. Obviously, that's extremely light, especially since the car packs enough battery power for 80 to 100 miles of range on the electric motor.
The secret is extensive use of carbon fiber. Most of the internal structure is a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic that makes it very strong and very light. BMW proudly displayed the chassis in its CES tent.
One of the coolest introductions was the Performance Data Recorder for the Corvette Stingray, made by Cosworth. Yes, that's the same Cosworth behind motors for iconic vehicles like Mercedes' 190E EVO and many European Fords.
The Performance Data Recorder employs a video camera on the windshield, below the rear-view mirror, and taps into the Stingray's CAN bus to record information, including throttle and brake input, engine RPM, steering telemetry, and g-forces. It combines that information with the 720p footage to let you review your race and compare lap times, presumably so you can improve.
Ford’s approach to the plug-in hybrid targets city dwellers who live 10 to 20 miles away from work. After all, the C-MAX Energi should give you about 20 miles of pure electric range. When the battery is depleted, it operates like a more conventional hybrid.
The C-MAX Solar Energi concept seeks to get rid of the plug-in charger completely by integrating a solar panel on the roof. What makes the panel unique is a concentrator with a Fresnel lens that boosts the impact of sunlight hitting the solar cells by a claimed factor of eight. Ford says that one day of sunlight should be enough to charge the battery pack. So, in theory, if your commute is 10 miles, you can drive to work, leave the C-MAX Solar Energi outside, and allow it to charge back up, free from the grid.
While this concept is a smart step for Ford, the C-MAX Solar Energi is still a hybrid at heart. We're hoping the company finds a way to add solar charging to purely electric vehicles like the Focus EV, reducing or even eliminating the range anxiety that haunts the owners of those cars.
Hyundai trotted out its next-generation 2015 Genesis sedan at the Pepcom showcase during CES 2014. Although the car already launched in its home market, Hyundai technically introduced it in North America at the Detroit Auto Show the week after CES. Because Pepcom came before that, the company wrapped its demo in vinyl to try camouflaging it. I actually liked the way it looked; can we get a matte black version of the Genesis sedan?
Expect the 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan to hit dealerships later this year with V6 and V8 engine options. All-wheel-drive will be an offered as a new feature as well.
New to the 2015 Genesis sedan is a Linux-based infotainment system. While Hyundai is part of the new Google Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), this platform does not employ Android. We spent a couple of minutes with the exclusively touchscreen version and found the user interface to be quite nice, putting navigation and music information side-by-side. There is even a customizable My Menu folder for quick access to your most-used applications and features.
If you dislike touchscreen-based interfaces, Hyundai offers an upgraded option on the 2015 Genesis sedan with a control knob and buttons, similar to what you get from the German vendors. The new navigation system also supports Siri Eyes-Free, if you're using an iOS-based device.
Hyundai is updating its Blue Link application and telematics system in the 2015 Genesis sedan. Previously, telematics was a seperate device on the CAN bus. Now it's being integrated with the infotainment hardware. The modules still communicates over 3G, but by moving it into the head unit, Hyundai can more easily upgrade to LTE later.
The newest addition to Blue Link is a revised app that looks better and responds faster. Although the existing Blue Link app gets the job done, it's also a little clunky, and there's a notable delay when you send remote start, unlock, or lock commands. Hyundai promises to address those delays with its update.
Also new to the Blue Link app is Google Now-esque functionality. By tying into your calendar and following your vehicle usage patterns, the app pops up reminders to remotely start your car before work if it’s cold outside, for example, or send your upcoming destination to the car so its navigation system is ready to go as soon as you climb in. Those are features we would actually use on a daily basis. Hyundai plans to launch its latest build for Android and iOS. We asked about Windows Phone compatibility and were told it isn't available yet.
Hyundai is jumping into Google Glass development with a Blue Link app for the 2015 Genesis sedan. It will provide access to Blue Link features, such as remote start, lock and unlock, and maintenance reminders. Conceptually, this stuff is cool.
Kia used CES 2014 to introduce its KND-7 concept, which serves as a platform for the company's latest infotainment technology with app support. The KND-7 is an update to the Cub concept car shown off in Seoul last year, packing a 1.6 L turbocharged motor making 201 hp. It's cute, and sports a smiley grin.
Inside, there's an 18-inch heads-up display, a 12.3-inch LCD gauge cluster, eye tracking, and hand gesture sensors. Unfortunately, there were just too many other folks checking out the demo and we had to keep moving, so we didn't get any time to play with Kia's technology.
Kia is ready to enter the luxury market with its rear-wheel drive K900, which shares an architecture with Hyundai's Genesis sedan. The company had a K900 cutaway display in its booth showing the car's features and technology. The UVO infotainment system, blind spot monitoring, traffic alert, lane departure warning, LED headlights, and 360-degree camera caught our eyes. You can expect Kia's K900 to show up later this year with V6 and V8 options, similar to the Genesis sedan.
Kia also showed off its new Facebook application that leverages the UVO platform to make driving social. How does such an intimate activity become something you share? Through Social Music, Local Info, and Path Tagging. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable sharing location-based information on the road, particularly not to Facebook, where everyone can see. The last thing I need is to get judged for jamming to some Selena Gomez.
Mercedes wants in on the parade of predictive apps that help control your car. The futuristic-looking infotainment system is simply called Predictive User Experience, and it's said to adopt your preferences. Mercedes is even working with Nest (I guess that'd be Google now) to integrate support, so that your car notifies your house's thermostat to dial in the right temperature in time for your arrival.
There's a lot of cool technology at work here. When you get in and start your car, cabin temperature, seat heaters, and the heated steering wheel are all adjusted to your preference. Let's say most of your commute is fairly boring, though there's a sequence of curves you enjoy taking faster. The system should adapt to your style, maintaining economical settings for much of the trip. As you approach those bends, though, it stiffens the suspension and adopts more aggressive shift points without any driver intervention.
Nvidia’s big news for CES was its Tegra K1, based on the Kepler graphics architecture. While we expect tablets and other large form factors based on this latest SoC, the company was also talking about its Tegra K1-based Visual Computing Module, which attempts to make infotainment hardware easier for auto makers to swap in and out.
Unfortunately, there aren't any Tegra K1 design wins to talk about yet in the automotive space. However, the modularity of the VCM has us hoping for an aftermarket head unit that might be upgradeable. We might even have something in the works for the tinkerers who want to roll their own infotainment system.
We’re typically not fans of LCD gauge clusters, since they tend to lack visual depth. This is something Nvidia is trying to address; the Kepler-based graphics engine in Tegra K1 facilitates increased material realism and faster response.
Nvidia had mock-ups in its booth to show off what a Tegra K1-driven gauge cluster might look like. Of course, I'll reserve judgement for my first test of a production vehicle with with this technology inside.
Parrot showed off its OEM-only SOCA platform, based on a single-DIN box. It's powered by a custom Parrot P7 SoC that features two Cortex-A9 cores with Mali 400 graphics. The company rolls in a couple of other enhancements for more specific functions, such as noise canceling and voice recognition. This platform runs on Android 4.4 KitKat, and should be easily upgradeable.
The SOCA system communicates through Ethernet. It can also access the vehicle CAN bus. Other notable features include Miracast smartphone mirroring, Wi-Fi, support for USB-based LTE modems, and assured compatibility with standard Android apps.
Given its communications capabilities, Parrot's SOCA supports distributed playback to standalone tablets via Ethernet or Wi-Fi as well. This gives auto makers the ability to choose the Android-based tablet they like best and integrate them for rear-seat entertainment.
Unfortunately, the SOCA platform doesn't have any design wins yet. Parrot's last-generation OEM platform was adopted by Volvo as the Sensus Connected Touch system.
Parrot isn't forgetting about Asteroid Smart users either; it's planning a software update that includes a new, better-looking home screen. There's no ETA for it. However, Parrot is pretty good about updating the Asteroid Smart. Since the head unit debuted last year, we've already seen four software packages.
QNX was at CES 2014 showing off a dolled up version of Mercedes' CLA45 AMG, which serves as the company's showcase of what to expect from automotive technology in the next three to five years. QNX has the CLA equipped with its CAR platform, which supports stereo vehicle-to-vehicle calling, automatic speech recognition, an HTML5-based key fob application, a customizable LCD gauge cluster, and cloud-based music support.
Because it's a reference system, QNX loads the CLA45 AMG with every navigation application you can think of as a proof of concept. Elektrobit, Kotei Navi & Data, Aisin AW, and Nokia HERE are all up and running. However, the platform supports standard Android 4.3-based apps as well, which should facilitate easy adoption of existing software.
The CLA45 AMG's interior is clearly modified extensively. A standard seven-inch LCD was swapped out for a very wide 21 x 7-inch LCD. The display looks really good (better than the stock unit, even). QNX also replaced the analog analog gauge clusters for an attractive LCD.
Typically, we get annoyed about LCD gauge clusters that try to emulate analog gauges. But we found ourselves much more accepting of QNX's digital speedometer and needleless tach.
Qualcomm is taking its own stab at the automotive infotainment market with its Snapdragon 602A SoC. Unlike smartphones and tablets, components designed for cars need to withstand extreme temperatures and be available for many, many years. There are vehicles out there that remain on the market for a decade, and repair parts need to be available for as long as 10 years after they stop selling.
The company's SoC features four Krait-based CPU cores, an Adreno 320 GPU, and integrated LTE, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth LE 4.0.
Qualcomm didn’t have a demo car in its booth, but there was a mocked-up center stack on display. It rendered 3D navigation maps while driving the screen on a secondary LCD playing Asphalt 8: Airborne at the same time. The Snapdragon 602A's potential is tremendous, though we're not sure if powering rear-seat entertainment is a necessity any more as more companies move toward dedicated Wi-Fi-connected tablets.
Toyota unveiled its hydrogen-powered FCV concept car at CES 2014, too. The funky-looking design runs exclusively on compressed hydrogen gas, and Toyota is targeting 300 miles of range per fill-up (which it estimates will cost $30). With an extremely slow estimated 0-60 MPH time of 10 seconds, this is clearly not a performance monster. But it will haul up to four people. Toyota expects the FCV to hit California next year, where hydrogen filling stations are currently even less prevalent than electric charging stations.