NVIDIA Powering More than Just PCs and Handheld Devices

NVIDIA Powering More than Just PCs and Handheld Devices

While we might not see its logo or tail-end of the Tesla Motors Model S here in Malaysia, the release of the car is definitely something to be excited about as it is a sign of just how the automotive industry is moving towards the future. This is also in no small part, thanks to NVIDIA, as in conjunction with the Model S' debut, NVIDIA also debuted the Tegra Visual Computing Module (VCM).

Based on the same powerful Tegra processor used in smartphones and tablets such as the HTC One X and ASUS Transformer Prime, the Tegra VCM will power this beautiful sedan's 17-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system – the largest ever in a passenger car – as well as its all-digital instrument cluster.

“To capture the interested of today's consumer, automakers must innovate well beyond the traditional transportation benefits of a car,” said Thilo Koslowski, Vice President and Automotive Practice Leader at Gartner. “Automakers have to impress drivers with superior in-vehicle connectivity and interface experiences that leverage the best technology innovations available.”

Tesla Motors is the first company and currently the only one to ship the Tegra VCM. NVIDIA's VCM enables intuitive, interactive, high-resolution visuals inside its vehicles. For drivers, this means that the system provides larger, more readable maps and a beautifully rendered instrument cluster that can be personalized from the multifunction steering wheel.

Essentially, the VCM features the world's first mobile superchip and uses not one but two Tegra VCMs. The first is used to power the infotainment system, which features a 17-inch touchscreen with a customizable and intuitive UI for music, phone, navigation, connected services and climate control. The second Tegra VCM is then used to drive the all-digital instrument cluster, which features a high-resolution, 12.3-inch LCD display and advanced 3D graphics that can be personalized based on each driver's preferences.

“Tesla has created a premium electric vehicle that is raising the bar on value, performance and efficiency while getting people excited about cars again,” said J.B. Straubel, Chief Technology Officer, Tesla Motors. “With the power of NVIDIA Tegra, we are able to deliver a visually stunning in-vehicle experience to our customers and put rich content at their fingertips.”

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