The Audi A3 is expected to be launched sometime during next year with a facelift.

The refreshed version of the A3 will come with a virtual cockpit, a feature that was previously reserved for the luxury models by Audi. The A3 is the entry model Audi offers to car owners in most countries around the world.

The virtual cockpit was recently showed by Audi as part of a concept car model. The virtual cockpit display is the next step in software and technology that completely changes the dashboard of the car. The virtual cockpit moves all functions into the car’s gauge clusters. The move allows the designers to create a simplified dash. The single customizable screen that replaces the main instrument is packed with functions and can be operated by controlled clicks and voice commands on the touch screen. There are still physical buttons for frequently used functions, but the goal is to make everything touch and voice controlled.

The virtual cockpit has its own strengths and weaknesses. The biggest advantage of the feature is that it moves the display way closer to the dridver. However, at the same time, it leaves the passengers and the co-driver with nothing to look for. The move removes the possibility of delegating tasks to the person in the passenger seat.

The Audi A3 has always been considered as a premium model in terms of available equipment, despite its size and price. And the new model of the A3 will benefit from that strategy. The specs and price of the next generation Audi A3 are still unknown, but they will likely stay the same as the current model.

The latest version of the Audi A3 was released last year, as the Audi A3 2015 model. That should put the mid-cycle facelift on schedule for next year, sometimes between April and August. The technology will come as an optional feature to the A3 and will cost around $400 for owners to install into their car.

The 12.3 inches digital cluster made its debut in the third generation of the Audi TT, but Audi intends to make the virtual cockpit part of its entire range. At the moment, the virtual cockpit is a standard option for the TT and will be optional for the next generation of the Audi A3, Audi A4, and the Audi Q7. The A4 and the Q7 model will go on sale later this year.