From Quattro to Karaoke: Audi Patents Portable Singing Module

[Source: CarBuzz]

Arriving at a party in your brand-new Audi is one way to make a statement. But pull up to that same party in your brand-new Audi, then pull out the removable karaoke module and belt out Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and it will be an arrival that people won’t soon forget. And according to a recent report by CarBuzz, Audi may be answering your karaoke prayers sooner than you think. 

In May of last year, Audi filed a patent application with the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for a portable karaoke module. That application was just published a couple of weeks ago and the details are exciting for those who enjoy singing in front of a crowd.

Patent Details

The patent describes a smart karaoke module that works both inside and outside the car. When docked in the center console, it plays through the vehicle’s speakers; when removed, it switches automatically to its own built-in speaker. The system detects whether it’s docked without any user setup and can trigger a dedicated karaoke mode as soon as the microphones are removed from their flush-mounted slots. Music would stream from a smartphone or tablet, while song lyrics could appear directly on the car’s infotainment screen.

Audi is intent on making their vehicles more entertaining not just in terms of driving dynamics but also with in-car entertainment. They recently announced a collaboration with Disney to offer Disney+ programming directly in the vehicle. They have the AirConsole gaming platform, a sports streaming service via the DAZN app and the AI-based chatbot ChatGPT all already available on some newer Audi models. Times are changing and vehicles are offering more entertainment options than ever before.

The karaoke patent shows that Audi is letting its hair down a bit and is potentially bringing more fun and whimsy to their vehicles. However, just because a patent has been filed, that doesn’t guarantee that the karaoke system will make its way into production. But if it does, cars & coffee events are about to get a lot more entertaining.