Audi VR puts a showroom in a headset

The salesman can see exactly what you see on his computer screen, so he can guide you through the car's features.

The salesman can see exactly what you see on his computer screen, so he can guide you through the car's features.

Published Jan 16, 2015

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Ingolstadt, Germany - Audi has combined two existing digital technologies - the car configurator and the virtual reality headset - into a new 'showroom in a briefcase'.

The system's database contains all the colour and trim options for each model in the Audio range, including leathers, trims and infotainment systems.

You can put together your new Audi from the wheels up, in every detail, and then take a seat in your new car, look around - even check out the boot - in three dimensions, with all the sound effects, in unprecedentedly realistic detail.

A camera tracks the movement of you head and shifts the image accordingly; you feel as if you're part of the image.

TRUE TO LIFE

The headset is also fitted with premium Bang & Olufsen headphones that provide true-to-life sound, from the sound of the doors closing to the 14-channel sound of the top-of-the-range infotainment system in the Audi A8 - as well as the voice of the salesman, who sounds as if he is sitting right next to you.

He can also see exactly what you see on his computer screen, so he can guide you through the car's features.

All of that takes a lot of computing power, but Audi plans to have the hardware installed at selected dealerships - with the emphasis on developing markets - by the end of 2015.

Then, as the speed and capacity of portable technology catches up, it will install the system on laptops, so your local Audi dealer can make house calls, bringing the complete virtual showroom experience to your home or office.

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