Still working its way out of its emissions scandal, Volkswagen chairman of the board, Dr. Herbert Diess, took the stage as a keynote speaker at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, as part of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016, and proceeded to define the new Volkswagen as we will get to know it in the future.
Diess said the "new Volkswagen" stands for everything from affordable electric mobility to fully-connected vehicles, automated driving and an entirely new user experience.
He then proceeded to roll out with the debut of the e-Golf Touch electric car, which the company believes is the perfect embodiment of what the "new Volkswagen" will look and feel like, adding that it should be available to the public before CES 2017 or next January.
As a follow-up to the Golf R Touch, which was presented at CES 2015, the e-Golf Touch empowers drivers with simple hand gesture controls for volume and voice-activated commands like "Hello, Volkswagen — navigate me home" — all on a generous 9.2-inch touchscreen with 1280x640 resolution.
The extensively-connected e-Golf Touch also features a wire or cable-free cell-phone charging box, which juices up your smartphone by simply laying it down on the flat surface.
And those mark just the beginning of the cool amenities that VW has pumped this car up with.
The e-Golf Touch also supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Link, while allowing drivers to flood their home screen with their favorite content — whether it be music, images or video — essentially making it a smartphone on wheels.
The e-Golf is so connected that users can remotely control and check on the car using their smart watches. That means being able to turn on the e-Golf's AC and cool down the car before driving on a hot summer day. It also touts a speed alert, which parents of a heavy-footed teenage driver are sure to love, and a "Where's My Car?" function that allows drivers to find the vehicle even in a crowded parking lot nightmare. You can even give the electric e-Golf a charge wirelessly.
One more step closer into the future — and out of its emissions trudge — for Volkswagen.
