Volkswagen XL1 Gets an Augmented Reality Service App

Volkswagen's sleek XL1 model continues to get attention for its efforts to break new ground in fuel efficiency — it claims 700 mpg in a 2.6-gallon tank — but its accompanying app will change how mechanics work with the new car.

The Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistant App (MARTA for short) will employ augmented reality to offer instructions on the hybrid diesel's mechanical operations. MARTA focuses primarily on the mechanic's experience, offering service workers a new way to see the car's parts and fix problems.

See also: Augmented Reality Brings Tattoos to Life

Users line up a silhouette of the XL1 with the image of the real car on the mobile device to access specific instructions for working with the parts. The app reenacts the process of working on the car and gives users more information through specific labels of the individual parts. MARTA also lets users try out new parts on the car, such as different-colored hoods.

Volkswagen teamed up with Metaio, a company that first began by working with Volkswagen on an earlier project and later incorporated augmented reality into browser plugins, apps and more. The company recently launched a project with Ikea, in which shoppers can virtually place products in their home by using the catalogue paired with augmented reality.

MARTA works on mobile devices as well as tablets and will make its official debut at the InsideAR Conference on Oct. 11, 2013, in Munich.

Watch the video above to find out more.

Image: Flickr, MotorBlog.com

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