Audi returns to physical controls and sets touch technology aside

Only a few years ago, it seemed that automotive technology was heading toward the use of large multimedia screens. Large screens were appearing in new models, and brands sought to offer more screens, bigger ones, and with more functions. But after a period in which this seemed to be the trend, everything appears to have changed. Screens are being replaced by physical controls, and analogue interaction with several vehicle systems is making a comeback.

Audi is the latest brand to announce that it will return to physical controls and stop adding more controls to the vehicle’s multimedia screens. The new design director, Massimo Frasciela, has assured that the company will not abandon the most advanced technology, but only for the moments when it is truly necessary, rather than having it omnipresent at all times.

Goodbye to large screens

The large screens are going to disappear from the interior of Audi models. The brand’s next generation of models, which will debut with the arrival of the Audi Q5, will no longer feature this technology exclusively. Instead, quality materials will be chosen and the tactile experience will be enhanced, but in the form of physical controls. The aim is for technology to become intuitive, not intrusive.

For Frasciella, large screens, which take up a lot of space on the dashboard, represent “technology for technology’s sake” and offer no practical solutions for the driver. In contrast, for the executive, the return of physical controls offers a faster, more efficient and more intuitive response.

As we have already indicated, this trend is being followed by other manufacturers in the sector. Mercedes took this trend to its peak with its MBUX Hyperscreen system, but it is now rethinking this aspect in order to return to physical controls and a more rational use of the cabin space.

More advantages of the return to physical controls

The return of these physical controls does not only affect the usability of these systems. In addition, physical controls lower repair costs, since any problem with the screen can lead to a fairly high cost. Fleet management is also simpler and more efficient in places where current technology has not been implemented, so the return to physical controls in Audi models brings only advantages.

However, screen enthusiasts claim that this technology has many advantages, such as faster and more frequent updates. Audi therefore wants to strike a balance between the two approaches and achieve better functionality and technological support for its models, all without losing the quality and premium driving experience enjoyed by drivers of its cars.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverAudi Q528 versions · from 63,000 €