A less obvious highlight is the new hybrid navigation solution. Route calculation takes place primarily online on HERE’s servers, and in parallel onboard the car. It takes account of the overall traffic picture throughout a region. The system even includes events far off the planned route if they could potentially have an impact on it.

Information is permanently updated at frequent intervals. The data transfer between the car and the HERE backend uses LTE Advanced for high throughput. This constant exchange and the high computing power of the HERE servers create scope for new functions: If the driver discovers that a section of their route becomes blocked at short notice, he or she can obtain a local diversion directly and very easily. If the driver wants to change the suggested route, he or she can enlarge the section in question on the display, then simply trace the new route with their finger and activate it.

The new myAudi smartphone app also uses HERE navigation software and seamlessly synchronizes navigation destinations and favorites with the car via the cloud. This enables the customer to start destination input from a smartphone before getting into the car. The myAudi app takes the driver to the car, and the navigation system continues route guidance in the car with no need for an additional, separate procedure. The app then guides the driver on to their destination address once the car has been parked.

The navigation software in the car uses the HERE database and also evaluates information on the course of the road. This includes the number and direction of lanes, the edges of the roadway, bends, descents and inclines, junctions, roundabouts and city limits.

This data is used by various safety, convenience and efficiency functions such as predictive adaptive cruise control (pACC) and predictive efficiency assist PEA. The central driver assistance controller (zFAS) also processes the data. The controller receives the road data along the route from the navigation system, merges this with the data picked up by the on-board sensors and uses the results to determine e.g. the exact position of the car in its lane. The map data in the Audi A8 is updated automatically every three months over the permanent online connection.

In the medium-term, Audi will also team up with HERE for traffic sign information and hazard information—car-to-X services from the connect portfolio. The Audi models A4, A5, Q5 and Q7 use their on-board sensors to gather this information on speed limits and hazard points. At the moment, the information is still collected on Audi servers, processed and made available to Audi drivers.

One of HERE’s main projects is the HD Live Map. This provides the digital basis for future piloted driving. The new data platform describes the traffic space as a three-dimensional model accurate down to the centimeter rather than the meter, and dynamic rather than static. The HERE HD Live Map is currently in the setup phase, and the new Audi A8 is already prepared for this technology.

Audi participates in HERE together with other companies. Both sides plan to intensify their collaboration in future.