Mobile phones and smartphones can now also be connected via Wi-Fi. The smartphone tray that is being integrated in the centre armrest for the first time also offers battery-saving charging and optimised mobile phone reception. Also new is the ability to connect an iPhone to the PCM to use Apple Car Play. In addition, real-time traffic information is now available, which gives the driver a continual overview of the traffic situation both locally and along the planned route.

Access to the new PCM is provided by a touchscreen with multi-touch operation. In addition to short, long and multiple finger taps, it also recognises wiping and sliding as well as two-finger scaling and rotating. The touchscreen reacts as soon as the user's hand approaches, switching from the active overview mode to an operating mode. In the case of audio playback, for example, it shows buttons for pause, skip, play and reverse. The driver and front passenger may control the PCM with the new functions, but do not have to. As alternatives, there are still eight fixed operating keys beneath the monitor, two rotary/push-button controls and voice control for navigation and phone functions.

Navigation system recognises handwriting and word fragments

The advantages of the new touchscreen are especially apparent when operating the navigation system. The system also masters handwriting recognition, so the driver can write a destination with a finger. It is no longer necessary to input the entire address here. The intelligent algorithm of the PCM also recognises word fragments and compares them to earlier destination inputs, for example. If possible, the system recommends multiple routes to the driver, and the driver can select one by simply touching the desired route. The driver can also enter intermediate destinations. The map that is displayed may be shifted, rotated or zoomed on the monitor by multi-touch finger gesture control.

New and standard equipment: online navigation and real-time traffic information

In the new 911 Carrera, navigation has been significantly enhanced compared to the previous model by services such as real-time traffic information, Google Earth and Google Street View as well as an online search function for navigation destinations. The navigation system not only processes TMC and TMC Pro data as previously; it also considers information from the GPS data of vehicle fleets and mobile internet devices. Real-time traffic information obtained in this way gives the driver a continual overview of the current traffic density in the immediate vicinity and along the route. Google Earth and Google Street View are also part of online navigation. They give the driver and front passenger 360-degree and satellite views of the terrain, buildings and roads – similar to the familiar browser versions of these services.