All VWs to get touch-screen interface

All new Volkswagens will be built with a touch-screen interface from 2008, Wolfsburg’s design chief Walter de’ Silva has said.It’s a move intended to modernise VW’s dated satellite navigation system, which has been criticised for being unintuitive. However, touch-screen systems will also be incorporated into lower-end models like the Polo, which will get a simple-to-use screen to control the climate, radio and trip computer, among other functions.Adding touch-screen to all models will reduce the number of buttons and dials distributed around VW dashboards. Discussing his aims for future models, Walter de’ Silva commented “Simplicity is what we are trying to install, not only in design, but also in the functionality of all new VW models”. The German car giant will beat all other manufacturers by offering the high-tech interface across its model ranges from next year - a move that should be particularly well-received in the North American market, where high-spec in-car gadgetry is particularly popular.