Operating concept

The driver-oriented operating concept of the new TT* and TTS* has been redesigned from the ground up. The Coupé features two major innovations from Audi – the new MMI and the Audi virtual cockpit, which is a digital instrument cluster.

Audi virtual cockpit
The brand with the four rings is setting new standards with the Audi virtual cockpit. Its 12.3-inch, high-resolution display with 1,440 x 540 pixels produces tack sharp, brilliant and high-contrast images. Behind it all is a Tegra 30 chip from the Tegra 3 series of venture partner NVIDIA; Audi is the first carmaker worldwide to use the high-speed graphics processor. With a clock speed of over one gigahertz, the four-core chip can work together with a special 3D graphics program to perform more than eight billion computing operations per second.

Elaborate detail effects round out the state-of-the-art look. The tachometer, for example, is rendered at 60 frames per second so that the virtual needle moves smoothly and very precisely. Fresnel effects – the varying reflectance of the display glass depending on the viewing angle – are reproduced realistically. Scrolling processes, for example through lists, are based on a physical model that considers such theoretical factors as inertia, elasticity and damping.

The driver can switch between two interfaces using the “View” button on the top-of-the-line multifunction steering wheel. In “Infotainment” mode, a central window dominates the view – it offers a big stage for the navigation map or for lists in the Phone, Radio and Audio areas. The tachometer and speedometer are displayed as small dial instruments on the right and left.

In the Classic view, the middle window is smaller, and the instruments – with black scales, red needles and white numerals – are about as large as today’s analog instruments. The Audi TTS features a sporty mode in which a central tachometer dominates the image. Digital numbers in its inner ring indicate the speed. Another TTS feature is the display of the current charge pressure as a percentage.

The Audi virtual cockpit provides for the comprehensive, attractive and versatile display of all types of information, from the navigation arrows and dynamic animations to the graphics for the assistance systems. The display changes its context-related color scheme according to the main menu selected. In the Media menu, for example, it is orange, while green is used for the Phone menu. Indicators with fixed positions are displayed along the lower border; they show the outside temperature, time and odometer readings as well as warning and information symbols. LEDs indicate the coolant temperature and fuel level.

The new MMI
Just as groundbreaking as the Audi virtual cockpit is the new MMI system in the new Audi TT and TTS, which shows its full potential in the top-of-the-line version MMI navigation plus with MMI touch. The developers have completely redesigned the terminal on the center tunnel console and its menu structure. The result is an operating concept with flat hierarchies strongly geared toward the needs of the driver. Their structure is reminiscent of modern smartphones – an intelligent, easy-to-use logic replaces static menu trees, and frequently used functions can be reached with just a few clicks.

The center of the terminal continues to be the round rotary pushbutton. In combination with the connectivity package and MMI navigation, its surface is equipped with the touch-sensitive MMI touch. The touchpad is used to input characters and now also processes finger gestures. The driver can zoom on the map just like with a smartphone. An optical sensor with a sensitivity of one one-hundredth of a millimeter monitors the rotary motions of the highly precise dial for virtually stepless motion.

The toggle switches for the most important basic menus Navigation/Map, Phone, Radio and Media are located above the rotary pushbutton. The generic Menu button and the Back function are located below the dial, to the left and right of which is only a single button on each side.

The driver uses the left button to call up the redesigned function menus assigned to some of the basic menus. In the Radio menu, for example, this is where the band selection function is found; in the Map menu, traffic information.

The right button provides context-dependent options and settings. In the Navigation menu, for instance, the driver can get directions to an entered destination or display nearby parking lots and save the destination to the Favorites list. The function and context menus can also be opened by pushing the rotary pushbutton to the left or right.

Free-text MMI search
A major highlight of the new system is MMI search, which is available for all basic menus and like a search engine uses free text entry. It generally answers queries after just a few letters, taking into consideration the car’s current location. When searching for a place to eat, for instance, the driver only has to enter the name of the restaurant and the first letters of the city and a list of hits throughout Europe appears together with the addresses. Searching for songs, albums and radio stations works similarly.

Voice control has also undergone intensive further development so that the system now understands many phrases from everyday language usage. Commands like “I have to talk to Peter” or “I would like to call Peter” are now sufficient to call a contact. The top-of-the-line multifunction steering wheel with its buttons and rollers is another control instrument. Other than touch gestures, the driver can perform the same steps here as with the MMI terminal, all without taking his eyes off the road.

The new MMI navigation plus with MMI touch is backed by all the computing power of the Audi modular infotainment platform. Now in the second generation, it also uses the quad-core Tegra 30 processor from NVIDIA. It constantly checks back with its counterpart in the Audi virtual cockpit as it goes about its work.

MMI navigation plus with MMI touch is a highly networked media center. It includes two card readers, the Audi music interface (AMI), a DVD drive, an Aux-in jack and a Bluetooth interface for hand-free telephony and streaming audio. Incoming e‑mails and text messages from a mobile phone are displayed and read aloud. 10 GB of flash storage for music files, eight speakers and a speed limit indicator based on the navigation map round out the spectrum.

Audi connect
MMI navigation plus with MMI touch is made even more attractive by Audi connect, a data transmission module that establishes a connection to the Internet. Whenever possible it uses LTE (Long Term Evolution), which is up to ten times faster than the 3G standard.

Passengers in the new TT and TTS can surf and e-mail using the WLAN hotspot that comes with the module. Audi connect also brings tailored Internet services to the car for the driver, from navigation with Google Earth and Google Street View to online media streaming and real-time traffic information. Facebook and Twitter are customized for use in the car, as are flight and train information and news. Many of these services can be customized to the driver’s individual needs using a myAudi account. The Audi MMI connect app also provides a direct connection between the car and the user’s smartphone.

Attractive components round out the infotainment options. These include the Bluetooth interface, the Audi music interface for connecting portable players, tuners for digital radio and TV reception and the Audi phone box for the convenient wireless connection of a mobile phone. At work in the Audi sound system is a five-channel amplifier with eleven speakers.

The top-of-the-line solution when it comes to hi-fi is the Bang & Olufsen sound system. Its amplifier drives twelve speakers, including two center speakers and two bass boxes, with 680 watts of power through 14 channels. The sound processor analyzes noise levels inside the car with a microphone to optimize the sound. In combination with MMI navigation plus, the sound is also output in 5.1 surround format.

The equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.