Imagine a long drive in an electric car where, instead of watching the grass grow, you dive into a game of Tetris. This is exactly what the upcoming Skoda Elroq and Enyaq models will offer, featuring fun functionalities to keep passengers entertained during charging times.
More Entertaining Trips
What do we do during a long trip while the electric car is charging? We first think about the restroom and a snack from the gas station. But for those who don’t need that, the Skoda Elroq and Enyaq models, thanks to their software update 4.0, will soon offer a new dimension of entertainment. The Czech brand is enhancing its infotainment system with video games, allowing passengers to have fun during breaks.
Among the new features is the gaming platform AirConsole, the video service Skoda Play with personalized news, and the native integration of Spotify. These three functions are available through the Media Streaming Package, offered for free during the first three years. However, Skoda remains vague about whether this package will be standard or optional; it is not yet visible on the Elroq configurator.
AirConsole: 15 Games at Launch, Smartphone as Controller
AirConsole, developed by Swiss company N Dream, debuts with 15 games, including a version of the classic Tetris. Imagine your touchscreen transformed into a game board while your smartphone becomes the controller. With solo and multiplayer modes, and the audio system delivering game sound, the experience promises to be immersive. To enjoy AirConsole, you will need a Skoda ID, an active MySkoda account, and an internet connection on your smartphone. Note: gaming is only possible when the vehicle is parked.
With Skoda Play, you can test your knowledge with a video quiz
Skoda Play: News and Educational Video Content
Skoda Play presents itself as a video service that provides news and educational content. Developed with the “3Ready Automotive” solution from 3SS, it integrates content from Euronews, NASA+, CNN, Reuters, and Bloomberg. Like the games, this feature requires the vehicle to be parked to be used.
In the future, Spotify will be directly integrated into the infotainment and will not need to be downloaded separately
Spotify: Direct Integration into Infotainment
The famous music and podcast service Spotify will be directly integrated into the infotainment system. Spotify account holders will be able to log in in the car and access their audio content without having to use their smartphone. A nice advancement that will allow you to listen to your favorite tracks while driving.
Traffic and Safety: Enhanced Traffication-App
Another interesting new feature is the enhancement of the Traffication-App. This function, developed with HAAS Alert, now includes an alert to warn drivers of the approach of emergency vehicles. Thanks to a cloud platform, emergency vehicles share their position and direction in real-time. The Skoda backend processes this information and displays a notification indicating the distance and direction of the emergency services, while explaining how to form a rescue corridor.
This feature is already active in the UK and the Netherlands, while other regions, such as the Czech Republic and Belgium, are expected to follow. However, it is still unclear when Germany will be integrated into the system.
Planning: Optimizations in MySkoda
The route planner of the MySkoda app has also been optimized. It now offers more detailed configuration options, such as selecting charging stations near certain locations, restricting to the Skoda Powerpass roaming charging network, or defining a minimum charge level upon arrival. A significant improvement for long trips.
In Brief
In-car gaming seems to be establishing itself as an essential trend. Tesla has paved the way with its “Arcade” games, but BMW and Mercedes are not far behind with their own offerings. Now, Skoda’s Elroq and Enyaq join the movement. However, the brand has not yet specified whether these new features will be free or paid, nor if already delivered vehicles will benefit from an over-the-air update.
To stay informed about all these new features, feel free to check out recent automotive news.
