Your next VW could drive itself in traffic jams, have steering-wheel touchpads

By Stephen Edelstein Published November 10, 2014

New-car development never stands still, especially when it comes to tech. Carmakers are currently racing to find the best ways to integrate smartphones into dashboards, and make cars smart enough to manage all of the information they’re now capable of generating.

After paying a visit to the Volkswagen Group’s Silicon Valley research lab, Autocar reports that the German carmaker has multiple systems on the horizon that will increase vehicle autonomy and improve the vaunted human-machine interface.

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The first of these pieces of tech is a “Traffic Jam Pilot” that will allow cars to drive themselves in certain situations. It uses an array or cameras and sensors to do that, backed up by onboard HD maps.

This is likely the semi-autonomous tech Audi hinted at a couple of months ago. It’s expected to launch on the next-generation A8, but Volkswagen says the technology is scalable, so it could trickle down to cheaper models as well.

The same hardware will also support an autonomous parking function, which will reportedly allow the driver to get out and guide the parking maneuver with a smartphone. It could become available as early as 2016.

For when the driver is actually in the car, the VW Group is also experimenting with steering-wheel mounted touch pads. Just like the touch pads that have already made their home on the center consoles of some cars, they would allow drivers to quickly input commands.

On a completely different note, Volkswagen is also experimenting with a system that takes photos using four externally-mounted GoPro cameras, and sorts through them for the best shots of the scenery you’ve just driven through.

The system can take around 6,000 pictures over a two-hour journey, but it’s supposed to be able to learn how to choose the best ones. All the driver needs to do is pick from that smaller batch and Instagram or Twitter away.

Of course, if this tech becomes available around the same time as the promised autonomous systems, it might be rendered redundant.

If the car is driving itself, can’t the humans inside press a shutter button?

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.