Skoda’s latest infotainment tech is making
its way into the Superb, Karoq and Kodiaq for the start of the 2021 model year.
The systems are based on the VW Group’s third-generation infotainment matrix
and allow for more custom vehicle settings than ever before.
Novelties include the Laura digital voice
assistant, Internet radio and wireless SmartLink tech, online personalization
and more. You also get modern USB-C sockets instead of older USB-A ports, while
a USB-C slot above the rear-view mirror can be had as an optional extra.
Thanks to a built-in SIM card, all Skoda
infotainment systems (aside from the entry-level 6.5-inch touchscreen one) are
to feature a permanent Internet connection. The Laura digital assistant
meanwhile can understand as many as 15 languages and can process “fluently
spoken sentences in Czech, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.”
Apps include news and weather reports,
while customers that opt for the top of the range Columbus navigation will get
a 9.2-inch screen instead of an 8-inch one. Furthermore, your destination can
now be transferred directly from the Skoda Connect app to the sat-nav system.
With the online personalization option,
you can transfer your Skoda Connect account settings to different Skoda models,
so buying a new car doesn’t have to mean starting back over with setting
everything up. A maximum of 14 owner profiles and one guest profile can be had
per each car, so you can have your Virtual Cockpit layout, assistance systems,
climate control and light settings just the way you want. As for the Scala and
the Kamiq, they’ll be getting expanded infotainment features too, plus the
optional USB-C port built into the roof above the rear-view mirror.
