- The Digital Cockpit streamlines the delivery of important information to the driver
- The Arona is the first crossover on the segment to integrate the Digital Cockpit
- The Digital Cockpit’s 10.25” display is customisable to maximise its benefit and aid drivers, helping them focus on the most important information
SEAT is bringing its versatile and customisable Digital Cockpit to the Arona and Ibiza, providing clearer information that is better suited to individual drivers.
The pixel-dense digital instrumentation not only has a more modern and versatile design, but provides greater functionality, allowing drivers to view everything from classic information found on analogue dials, such as speedometer and tachometer, to full-colour maps and navigation (as optional equipment).
“We are fully committed to offering our customers the best quality design, bringing in the precision of a classic gauge into the digital world, where each pixel is designed with the same accuracy”, said Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Director of Design at SEAT. “Taking advantage of this disruptive digital environment, our interior car design upgrades to the next level.”
Controlling the information provided is simple and requires the driver to merely press the steering wheel-mounted ‘View’ control button to scroll through the three different available main displays, minimising driver distraction and maximising the clarity of information provided depending on the driver’s needs. Transitions between the available information on the 1280 x 480 pixel TFT display are smooth thanks to its 75 Hz refresh rate, which makes information easier to read.
Display choices
SEAT’s Digital Cockpit provides three main information displays: Classic, Digital and Dynamic View.
Classic information provides the well-known analogues features such as a speedometer and tachometer, but between these two digital dials extra data can be displayed, including navigation information, music, phone, driving data and assistance information (lane assist, blind spot detection and front assist, ACC) and your vehicle’s status. While additional information can also be displayed in the very centre of the dials.
Digital maximises the 10.25” Digital Cockpit’s pixel dense display, showing detailed mapping information for the vicinity you’re in, making it easier to find parking facilities, garages and follow directions. The map can be zoomed in or out to make it easier for the driver to orientate themselves. This view also provides all menu information, such as phone, driving data, assistance information and vehicle’s status.
The Dynamic display provides an improved clarity to important information such as turn-by-turn directions, advanced driver assistance system information from lane assist, blind spot detection and front assist, and your vehicle’s status.
Driving data can also be displayed in all views, including: fuel consumption, distance driven and total mileage. The system also allows you to show the music currently being played, while the driver can scroll through the music library with minimal need to take eyes off the road.
And in a world that is constantly connected, should an incoming call be received the display will automatically adapt to include the caller’s ID, with the person appearing as a ‘pop-up’ on the screen.
Flexibility
The customisability of the Digital Cockpit means that no matter who is behind the steering wheel, the best information for that driver will appear. Two of the main displays – Classic, and Dynamic – can be adapted to show specific information.
This means that if the driver wants to mix navigation indications with traditional speedometer and tachometer dials or use the full screen to display the detailed map it can be saved as a user profile and easily selected the next time the driver is behind the wheel. Up to three profiles per style can be created and saved in the system.
On top of that, the Digital Cockpit features light sensors which, depending on ambient lighting conditions and by way of an algorithm, adapt the display lighting of the vehicle’s screen displays.
The Digital Cockpit is an instrument cluster that has been designed as an interactive display which is why it can be configured to the driver’s needs. And with a resolution of 133 dpi, the increased clarity and breadth of information available puts drivers in greater control.
Other models
SEAT’s Digital Cockpit was integrated in the Ateca and Leon at the beginning of the year and took centre stage at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. The Digital cockpit was featured in the CUPRA Ateca, the SEAT Leon CUPRA R ST and the SEAT Leon 1.5 TSI EVO FR.