Lexus to Move Back to Touchscreen Infotainment Interface

I personally would prefer if they went back to touch screens, way easier to use.

Almost 10 months now owning the Stinger with the touchscreen interface and no way would I trade that for the current RTI/screen setup Lexus offers.

I don't like the smudges and the screen although closer requires my head to turn more to the right taking my eyes/peripheral vision a little further away from the road. Journalists (mainly) complain about the RTI stating it's distracting but fail to point out that the Lexus screen is further back and more in the line of sight of the driver than a closer touchscreen can ever be. The few journalists that have actually had a Lexus for a longer period of time ended up warming up to the interface more.

Now, having experienced both the "mouse" and touchpad RTIs on my Lexus vehicles over the years, I do prefer the touchpad. Set to the lowest force feedback setting, the control is accurate and simple with the swipe and tap of a finger. On the other hand, the mouse requires more physical control and movement which can get more easily perturbed over rough roads overshooting the selection (and the main source of journalists' "complaints").

If Lexus pursues a touchscreen, I would hope it's to have the touchpad as touchscreen and to leave the 10-12" screen (or larger in the future) in its current ergonomically correct and safer place. It also looks cool and unique making it different than the mainstream closer touchscreen that the vast majority of cars are designed with.

Touchscreen is way faster to use. The RTI is really slow and distracts more.

Taking the finger and pointing somwhere goes quite easy as everybody knows where his finger is at the moment.

When using the RTI, you have to look for the cursor on the screen and then move it. If you look back on the street for a moment you have to "search" it again. That is really slow.

Best for use in a car (car moves, shakes etc. while driving) in my opinion is the old style piezo-resistive touch. Capacitive sometimes gives you false clicks when the car shakes.

I really hope Lexus keeps the remotes. I remember my 2008 IS always had fingerprints all over the screen and was just as distracting to use as a remote interface. I also much prefer the screen to be close to “heads up” vision and like the IS or GS applications where the screen is kept as far away from direct sunlight as possible and touch screens generally prohibit both features. Given how well voice commands are being developed, physical screen interfaces may not be required at all.

arrow1982

Touchscreen is way faster to use. The RTI is really slow and distracts more.

Taking the finger and pointing somwhere goes quite easy as everybody knows where his finger is at the moment.

When using the RTI, you have to look for the cursor on the screen and then move it. If you look back on the street for a moment you have to "search" it again. That is really slow.

Best for use in a car (car moves, shakes etc. while driving) in my opinion is the old style piezo-resistive touch. Capacitive sometimes gives you false clicks when the car shakes.

Lexus is most likely talking about Land Rover/Audi dual screen setups and if you've been inside Velar you would know that you need to look down in order to do anything on the screen. Reason why the industry will switch to screens only and eliminate physical buttons is cost effectiveness.

This return to a touchscreen may start happening as soon as the Model Year 2020 RX mid-life facelift/refresh if another thread on our forums turns out to be accurate.

Joaquin Ruhi

This return to a touchscreen may start happening as soon as the Model Year 2020 RX mid-life facelift/refresh if another thread on our forums turns out to be accurate.

:cool:

I definitely prefer the set up we have now with a controller and the screen at eye-level. Once you make something touch screen, it'll force drivers to move their eyes further away from the road.
If you get used to Enform 1.0 (mouse) and Enform 2.0 (touchpad), you'll find yourself barely taking your eyes off the road that often. Plus the screen is eye level so you'll still be able to see the road.

Is it possible for Lexus to do a controller and a touch screen combination set-up?

2 points.

1) Pretty much every review of the 2019 ES I've watched(and I've watch just about all) mentioned the current touchpad as a negative. So its a no brainer that its something Lexus should fix.

2) Bring back the A/C button already.

Wow it really takes a complete rethink on interiors... gone will be the ipads on the dash ala the Germans.....

I also wonder would we lose transmission handles and open more space up in other ways....

And bring back the drivers side cup holder in the RX and the storage under the dash :D

Wow this is great news just great news , for the 2014 and 2016 cars I have had the interface is safe . No one should be putting in direction when moving but it would be useful for the front passenger to do so . The graphics are Sega Genesis like but clear and not confusing. The pad and the mouse are both slow and it cheapens the car interior look . Hence the new LS , every thing is in the navigation, it should of had a new touch screen system made for it . If they do so it should come on the New IS . Dual screens , one screen just make it great ! No taking away knobs and switches . No gimmicks, just a great touch navigation system that has nothing to do with Toyota’s .please so that all the motor journalists could stop saying the car is good but .

I never had any issues with the Lexus trackpad, thought it was just fine. Always had that gut instinct that most people who complain about it don't really hate it much either. Ever wonder why every review on the LC had nothing bad to say except for one common item? the infotainment, but why? were they original complaints or mirrored (confirmed bias) complaints?

Touchscreen is still superior and can't wait for lexus to start implementing some futuristic applications. Now that there are curved OLED and bezel-less screens, they will have the room to do some creative executions. Doesn't the 3IS have touch temperature control? And all of Lexus vanity lights are also touch LED nowadays.

zeusus

I never had any issues with the Lexus trackpad, thought it was just fine. Always had that gut instinct that most people who complain about it don't really hate it much either. Ever wonder why every review on the LC had nothing bad to say except for one common item? the infotainment, but why? were they original complaints or mirrored (confirmed bias) complaints?

Touchscreen is still superior and can't wait for lexus to start implementing some futuristic applications. Now that there are curved OLED and bezel-less screens, they will have the room to do some creative executions. Doesn't the 3IS have touch temperature control? And all of Lexus vanity lights are also touch LED nowadays.[/QUOTE. Th

zeusus

I never had any issues with the Lexus trackpad, thought it was just fine. Always had that gut instinct that most people who complain about it don't really hate it much either. Ever wonder why every review on the LC had nothing bad to say except for one common item? the infotainment, but why? were they original complaints or mirrored (confirmed bias) complaints?

Touchscreen is still superior and can't wait for lexus to start implementing some futuristic applications. Now that there are curved OLED and bezel-less screens, they will have the room to do some creative executions. Doesn't the 3IS have touch temperature control? And all of Lexus vanity lights are also touch LED nowadays.

I agree with the pad but it is still slow , faster than the mouse thou . The touch lights in the cars are great . If Lexus can do all of this technology why then do they not reach further when they can , I know contacts with company for components, and life span of systems for profits, but when you have every other brand ahead of you in this one area and your bottom line is not being effected , well I guess there taking there time to get it right . It is just amazing thou Nissan , Honda , and Toyota there cars fall off the shelves more so because they last longer and is easy to fix , could it be they have seen that the infotainment system is not as important as durability and craftsmanship .

Just my opinion of course, but I really liked the RTI in my GS's. I got really good with them and rarely needed to take my eyes off the road to make my more common selections. With the mouse controller you knew where the end of the screen was because the controller was moved to the farthest end (up, down, left or right) and wouldn't move any more. you totally lose that with the touch pad so you have to continuously follow the curser with your eyes to know where you are on the screen. This is the biggest drawback.
I have had my RC for almost 2 years now and absolutely HATE the touchpad. It is extremely unintuitive. It even makes selections (map screen only) without double tapping or pressing down on the touchpad, just by placing your finger on it when trying to move the curser. It gets so frustrating that I almost punched the screen once (yes, I know "anger management").
BTW, when I use a laptop I almost always plug a mouse into it because it works much better than the touchpad.
Of course Lexus could do what BMW does and have an RTI and touchscreen at the same time. I drive a lot of cars and this current generation of iDrive is by far the best infotainment interface I have used (in my opinion).

Enthusiast88

Just my opinion of course, but I really liked the RTI in my GS's. I got really good with them and rarely needed to take my eyes off the road to make my more common selections. With the mouse controller you knew where the end of the screen was because the controller was moved to the farthest end (up, down, left or right) and wouldn't move any more. you totally lose that with the touch pad so you have to continuously follow the curser with your eyes to know where you are on the screen. This is the biggest drawback.
I have had my RC for almost 2 years now and absolutely HATE the touchpad. It is extremely unintuitive. It even makes selections (map screen only) without double tapping or pressing down on the touchpad, just by placing your finger on it when trying to move the curser. It gets so frustrating that I almost punched the screen once (yes, I know "anger management").
BTW, when I use a laptop I almost always plug a mouse into it because it works much better than the touchpad.
Of course Lexus could do what BMW does and have an RTI and touchscreen at the same time. I drive a lot of cars and this current generation of iDrive is by far the best infotainment interface I have used (in my opinion).

Boss ! You said it , summed it up well . The touchscreen should come back with a secondary way to in put as well , this will as least get people that drive other brands to look so where else and leave them . All it boils down to is sales , and Lexus has a better product than most , just need to make sure they have a better product than all .

Enthusiast88

BTW, when I use a laptop I almost always plug a mouse into it because it works much better than the touchpad.
Of course Lexus could do what BMW does and have an RTI and touchscreen at the same time. I drive a lot of cars and this current generation of iDrive is by far the best infotainment interface I have used (in my opinion).

I agree iDrive is very very good, as is Audi Mmi IMO....And Benz Smart.. took over a decade to figure out but they all work very well.

Ironically the Japanese brands always get knocked for their systems..

I actually like the remote touch interface, I hate seeing fingerprints on touchscreens.

Modern anti-fingerprint coatings are quite effective for this kind of application. These coatings are not very helpful on smartphones but that's because one will touch or swipe the screen more times in a day than they'll do on the car infotainment in a month. I don't see fingerprints becoming a problem as long as Lexus doesn't cheap out on the coating (it's actually neglible cost at 25 cents for a tablet-size screen).

I really hope they keep physical AC dials. Something as simple as changing the temperature is a PITA on any full touchscreen cars that have no physical buttons.

ssun30

I really hope they keep physical AC dials. Something as simple as changing the temperature is a PITA on any full touchscreen cars that have no physical buttons.

Lexus has done a good job with that so far - I really like the controls/screen division of labor in the LS500. It has fewer physical controls than the LS460, but I don't miss any of them.

krew

Lexus to Move Back to Touchscreen Infotainment Interface

Switch is in the works.

View the original article post

Remote touch is great idea. Like a computer you can control the screen without moving. But in reality people want touchscreen.

I Always liked the touch screen better, way faster and easier to use. Plus it makes the interior look much more futuristic. Just compare interior of Audi Q8 with RX. In my opinion all those touch screens on Q8 look much better. It makes RX in comparison look like it was made in 90's.

a return to fingerprint heaven ... Maybe there is an anti-print plastic like there is for stainless steel appliances.

Deusex

I Always liked the touch screen better, way faster and easier to use. Plus it makes the interior look much more futuristic. Just compare interior of Audi Q8 with RX. In my opinion all those touch screens on Q8 look much better. It makes RX in comparison look like it was made in 90's.
So for me Lexus made a right decision.

It is pretty ironic that main reason Lexus ever got away from touchscreens was that media wrote how it was same as Toyota and how Germans have much better remote interfaces and how touch screens were passe...

We have had feedback that there are some things that functionally, you have to dig down through menus to get to. The consumers don’t like that, both with us and competitors

This has zero to do with input method. I'm frankly not sure what he wanted to achieve here by saying that.

I'm not surprised Lexus is once again chasing a trend that's really not a trend anymore. By the time they do touchscreens something else will come up and they will be late once again. Remote Touch was a great idea ruined by poor execution and Lexus didn't do whole a lot to improve it. Touchpad itself does not adapt sensitivity while vehicle is moving, it's cluttered with options to tap on screen with such a small touchpad surface and thus it requires some learning curve. But everything was fixable. Side window on the main screen lacked hardware number keypad next to touchpad for example. There is no need to track all the way to the right of the screen to get to the list, instead list should have been numbered from 1-0 and you could easily access any item on the list by simply pressing a numpad key. So solutions were there they were just not implemented.

There is no better input method than muscle memory while hand is resting. As soon as touchscreen requires you to lift your hand and take your eyes of the road for significant time (or like new Audis that require you to look down to adjust climate control for a lot longer than you would with simple knob) that's already a problem. Btw new Audi interiors are horrible, look great on pictures but in person its just a mess. Great for Audi cause its cheaper for them to build screens instead of switch gear but that screen galore of redundant information is comical. Especially all digital dash on both Audi and BMW looks mega cheap and just poorly implemented, that's one aspect of interior design that Lexus still kills with proper mixture of analogue and digital.

spwolf

It is pretty ironic that main reason Lexus ever got away from touchscreens was that media wrote how it was same as Toyota and how Germans have much better remote interfaces and how touch screens were passe...

Which is true. 2000s touchscreen tech were terrible while wheel controls work really well till this day.

RAL

a return to fingerprint heaven ... Maybe there is an anti-print coating for plastic.

read this article: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a26343509/ppg-smudge-resistant-infotainment-screen/

The RTI touchpad has a lot of pros and cons.
Personally, I like it, but not every aspect of it. For me, I think it has more to do with the menu structure than the use of the touchpad itself. Some people like to use it with lowest force feedback, I like it in the highest feedback position. The main issue remains the input of town and street destinations for GPS functionality. To scroll over the screen's keyboard I use two fingers without leaving the touchpad and pushing the pad down as 'enter' function instead of tapping it twice. For me this is the easiest way to do it, but it remains rather dangerous to do this while driving.

The other issue is the number of functions that are hidden in the central menu without direct button access. This is mainly the case with LS and LC. It is simply too complex to get to the extended seat controls and climate controls (even if the Climate Concierge is doing a great job).

So mostly it is not very intuitive, but as a user you get used to it over time.

Ideally, the combination of touch screen and touch pad would be a nice one. But then again, there is a strong need of rethinking of the menu structure to make it more intuitive.

After all these years working for the Lexus brand, I am still surprised of the fact that Toyota and Lexus are rather slow on reaction to customers' requirements. I suppose this is one of the downsides of the Toyota Kaizen philosophy, which slows down the actual go-to-market procedure apparently? Or perhaps it has to do with the financial investment to use a certain number of parts over the years in different models?

What sucks for me (my personal gripe)... I was planning to buy a used LS500 in 2020 after my RAV4 lease matured in March. But now, knowing that the touchscreen interface is coming back to the Lexus brand, I will absolutely wait to purchase my LS500 just because of that. I like many don't care for the mouse pad but I was willing to deal with it since there was no other option. That appears to be no longer the case, which is great.

If I'm fortunate, Android Auto will be available as well since I'm an Android user solely. That wasn't a deal breaker but it would be a bonus.

I've seen more durability issues with touch screen units over the years versus non touch input systems. After a few years the touch doesn't respond then it's thousands of dollars to fix. I would rather stick with non touch interface systems.