Lotus Eletre SUV HMI
HMI Design
Lotus Eletre HMI Details
The Eletres interior takes its inspiration from the driver focused cockpits of the new Emir and Evija however the infotainment system is home to some features unique to the Eletre. For instance, below the instrument panel a blade of light runs across the cabin. While it appears to be floating, the light forms part of the HMI. The light changes colour to communicate different events, for example, if a phone call is received, if the cabin temperature is changed, or to reflect the vehicle’s battery charge status.
Beneath the light is what Lotus calls a ‘ribbon of technology’ which provides information to occupants in the front seats. Ahead of the driver the traditional instrument cluster has been replaced by a slim strip less than 30mm high that communicates key vehicle and journey information. This strip is mirrored on the passenger side but different information can be displayed, for example, music selection or nearby points of interest. Between the two is an OLED touchscreen, a 15.1in landscape interface which provides access to the car’s infotainment system. It automatically folds flat when not required. Information can also be displayed to the driver via a head-up display featuring augmented reality (AR) technology, all comes as standard equipment on the car.
While every element of the Eletre can be controlled digitally, certain key controls are duplicated with analog switches while voice control via speech recognition technology is also available.
At the core of the Eletre’s UI/UX is the Lotus attribute of simplicity, which is realised through three pillars.
1. Lightweight - a name given to both the system components and the experience. For example, with three touches of the main screen users can access 95% of the car’s functionality.
2. Intelligence - this means the system is versatile, creating a vehicle which is fully customisable through the settings menu.
3. Immersive - carefully crafted and curated content combining interactions that excite and engage occupants. This includes the on-screen three-dimensional world in which the car is viewed, showcasing the Eletre as the hero and adopting user experiences from the worlds of gaming and mobile technology.
Technology is used for much more than infotainment on the Eletre. It is also at the heart of the car’s comprehensive suite of intelligent Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), many of which are designed to be futureproof so new features can be enabled via Over The Air (OTA) updates.
The Eletre's seamlessly integrated LIDAR system means the Eletre supports end-to-end autonomous driving technology (autonomy level 4) and is future-proofed for further development. Further capability can be added via OTA software updates, some of which are optional extras and can be purchased by the owner.
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Image source: media.lotuscars.com / Special thanks to James Gimlett-Taylor
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HMI Gallery is a collection of case studies showcasing the features, functionality, fonts and iconography of digital interface design in high performance vehicles.
Curated by Ben Morris
Digital Creative