Volvo claims the new cockpit in its redesigned 2015 XC90 large SUV (replacing the jurassic original which dates all the way back to 2002) will “transform the in-car driving experience”.
The new model dispenses with the usual array of buttons which have been replaced by a large tablet-like touch screen, a head-up display and thumb controls on the steering wheel.
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The result, Volvo claims, “is the most modern in-car control system on the market, which is crucially easier to use, ensuring drivers will be able to keep their eyes on the road as much as possible while operating or making adjustments to the system.”
It also is said to use the car’s interior space far more efficiently and offer a range of additional benefits such as integrated cloud based applications for music streaming and other services, such as the [claimed] world first integrated ‘park and pay’application and the ability to mirror and use Apple iOS devices in the touch screen display.
“As cars increasingly become more connected to the internet and are able to offer a far wider range of functions and entertainment services, the way in which the driver interacts with the car’s systems is becoming progressively more important. It is essential that these services are offered in a way that does not reduce safety levels and in a manner that is easy to understand and optimised for the driving task,” said Thomas Müller, who heads Volvo Car’s electronics engineering.
Volvo said the typical driver control system in many other premium cars can involve 30 or more buttons spread across a dashboard, making it challenging for drivers to locate and operate, and threatening to distract their attention.
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By GlobalDataSensus
The new interface, part of the so called Sensus system, incorporates the latest touch screen hardware and software to allow drivers to build an instinctive understanding of how the system works, where the controls are located and how to operate them.
The touch screen replaces the traditional selection of buttons and controls in the centre stack with one central control panel which interacts with an adaptive digital instrument cluster in front of the driver while vital information is projected on the head-up display on the lower part of the windscreen. The user interface also includes thumb-reach controls on the steering wheel and voice control.
“Using the screen is so logical that it will become part of your muscle memory very quickly,” designers claim. “Information, navigation and media are high up and easy to check. The phone controls, application icons and climate controls are located low and are comfortable to reach and touch. All of this logic is based on extensive usability and user experience research and the latest technology.”
The layout on the portrait screen is a stack of flexible ’tiles’, each displaying a key functionality. Navigation is on top, followed by media and telephone. A thin notification band is located above the tiles, while the digital climate controls form the ‘foundation’ of the pile.
When one of the tiles on the touch screen expands on interaction, the others are compressed but still visible and instantly accessible. This makes the touch screen user-friendly with no need to go via a main menu when switching between functions.
The adaptive digital instrument cluster and the head-up display make sure that the most relevant information is always available where the driver needs it.
Fully connected
Like most recently launch new car, the redesigned XC90 will be able to connect to the internet via an Ericsson cloud and Here brand navigation allowing remote content updates.
Sensus includes cloud-based applications with a branded look and feel. The selection of cloud-based services, which will vary according to market, includes internet radio, connected navigation, finding and paying for parking, restaurants at destination and seamless music streaming.
“The XC90 will not only tell you when it’s time to visit the garage but also suggest an appointment for you at the dealership. The connected service booking application is the first step in making the dealer workshop fully integrated into the connected system,” Volvo said.
Seamless smartphone integration
The XC90 will be the first Volvo to offer Apple CarPlay, which brings some of the features and services familiar to iPad, iPhone and iPod users directly into the car via the centre display. These include the well-known icons for basic Apple applications, such as phone, messages, music and navigation.
“Apple’s clean and intuitive user interface is a perfect match with Volvo’s Scandinavian Design approach and our focus on fluid functionality,” the automaker said.
