Backseat Thrills

As this year’s CES in Las Vegas, Audi was all about entertainment – showcasing the “Audi Experience Ride” by its new start-up, Holoride, which promises to take backseat passengers on a whole new joyride. The prototype being demoed at CES will soon be made available to software developers for use with any car brand or device.

Audi’s new extended reality (XR), fuses virtual reality (VR) with the car’s actual movements in real time to create an immersive environment. So, say the game is a Star-Wars-style galactic shootout – the action will mimic the movement of the car as it winds along a country road. Other games or movies might take advantage of the stop-and-go motion of city traffic. Not only is this more involving for the user, it also mitigates the problem of car sickness. Plus, the system links into the vehicle’s navigation data, meaning it can tailor content to the drive ahead – known as “elastic content”.

In the days leading up to CES, Audi invited guests to try out the Audi Experience Ride on the Speed Vegas track with a fleet of e-tron SUVs. According to reports, the effect is ultra-intense – and no need for sick bags.

The software development kit (SDK) for content creators will be launched by the end of this year, with actual product likely to come to market within the next two to three years.

Feature image and video provided by Audi AG