Test drive Golf 8: Exhaust digital dashboard

The new model is a car connected to the driver better than ever

Standard equipment with digital cockpit. The new Golf is a car that interacts with the driver better than ever. At the heart of this intuitive connection is the fully equipped Digital Cockpit with 10,25-inch screen and the infotainment system (8,25-inch touchscreen and online connectivity) as standard on the new model. multifunction steering wheel. The combination of the Digital Cockpit and the infotainment system creates a new complete digital instrument cluster architecture. The fully digitized driver's station can be complemented by either of two optional 10-inch infotainment systems, which combine with the large Discover Pro navigation system to form a complete Innovision Cockpit. The new model's optional equipment also includes a head-up display, which projects the most important information directly onto the windshield and appears to "float" in space in the driver's immediate field of vision. The lighting and visibility functions have also been redesigned, integrated and more intuitive to operate, with lighting and heating for the windshield and rear windows now controlled via touch buttons on the number pad to the left of the instrument cluster. Perfect ergonomics are also evident in the layout of the center console - in the new Golf this area is cleaner and tidier than ever. This is primarily due to the significantly smaller dual-clutch transmission (DSG) control lever. The philosophy of clean and functional solutions continues in the new overhead console, where the function controls are also fully digitized, including a convenient and intuitive touch slider for controlling the optional panoramic sunroof. The optional 400W and 400W Harman Kardon audio system, in turn, guarantees perfect sound in the interior of the new Golf.

Infotainment systems with full connectivity to the global network.

All infotainment systems in the Golf are integrally connected to the Online Connectivity Unit (OCU), which uses an eSIM card for mobile communications. With OCU and eSIM, the driver and his companions have access to an ever-growing range of online features and services within the Volkswagen We brand ecosystem. For example, the We Connect services (no time limit) and We Connect Plus (ready for free use in Europe for one or three years) are part of the standard equipment of the new Golf, while the optional We Connect Fleet (digital fleet management) services offered have been developed specifically for corporate use.

We Connect offers the following features:

• Mobile key (depending on equipment level - unlock, lock and start the Golf with compatible smartphones), call for roadside assistance, information about the current state of the car, the state of the doors and lights, automatic emergency call in an accident, technical report condition and serviceability of the car, travel data, location of the parked car, maintenance schedule.

Depending on the level of equipment, the We Connect Plus service offers the following functions in addition to the We Connect assortment:

• Area Alert and Speed Alert, remote control of horn and lights, online control of the anti-theft alarm, online setting of additional heating, remote control of ventilation, unlocking and blocking, departure timer (for plug-in hybrid versions), air conditioning control (for plug-in hybrid versions) , refueling (for plug-in hybrid versions), online traffic information and hazard information on the route, online route calculation, location of petrol stations and petrol stations, online navigation maps update, localization of free parking spaces, online inspection points of interest and POIs, online voice control, We Deliver service (allows you to receive packages and services to Golf without the presence of the owner), Internet radio stations, online broadcast of multimedia content, Wi-Fi Internet access point.

We Connect Fleet offers the following features:

• Digital road book, refueling / electricity log, fleet efficiency monitoring, GPS location and route history, fuel / electricity consumption analysis, technical support management.

Key is mobile. In the future, the role of the key to access and start the car will be taken over by the smartphone. In this case, the necessary interface is provided by the We Connect service - the necessary settings for compatible Samsung smartphone models are made using the We Connect application, after which authorization for the main user is performed once through the infotainment system and entering a unique password. To use your smartphone as a mobile key, you don't need to be connected to a mobile network - just bring your smartphone closer to the door handle in the same way that Keyless Access unlocks your car. Starting the engine is easy and convenient by placing your smartphone in a special compartment (with a mobile phone interface) on the center console. An added convenience is the ability to send a mobile key to friends or family members, who can also use their smartphones as keys to access and start the new Golf.

Personalization. Various individual settings can be saved both directly in the Golf and optionally in the cloud, which means that they can be accessed at any time and regardless of conditions – even after a change of driver or vehicle. Depending on the equipment level, the setting options include Innovision Cockpit configuration, seat position, exterior mirror and air conditioning settings, indirect interior lighting and light functions for sending/receiving headlights.