Home cinema on wheels: First car with Dolby Vision
Dolby is using CES 2025 for another first in the automotive sector: the debut of Dolby Vision for cars.
(Image: heise online / Nico Jurran)
Dolby Atmos in the car is no longer a rarity: over 20 manufacturers now offer vehicles with sound systems that can handle the 3D sound format – including Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Rivian, and Volvo. At this year's CES, Dolby is also presenting the world's first Li Mega car with integrated displays that also support the dynamic HDR format Dolby Vision. The manufacturer is the Chinese company Li Auto, which intends to offer all of its new models on its home market with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. The vehicle is not allowed to drive around Las Vegas as it lacks the necessary road approval.
Dolby Vision in the car
There are two monitors in the top model on show: a 15.7-inch OLED display for the driver and front passenger in the front seat and a fold-out 17-inch OLED display for the two rear rows, both positioned in the middle. In the demo, both screens produced a bright, high-contrast and colorful picture. The Dolby Atmos sound was also pleasing with clear immersion and clear treble effects.
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In practical terms, the Dolby Vision system used in the Li Auto is an IQ variant: sensors on the vehicle and inside it adapt the picture to the ambient light so that, according to Dolby, viewers always see the best possible picture - regardless of whether the car is parked in bright sunlight or driving through a tunnel.
(Image:Â heise online / Nico Jurran)
The Dolby Atmos system was designed to match the position of the displays: The center channel sounds appropriately from the middle of the vehicle, whereas in Dolby Atmos setups in cars without mini TV screens, it often sounds directly in front of each passenger. The volume can be adjusted separately at the front and rear.
According to Dolby, buyers in China not only use the Li-Auto models to entertain passengers with videos and music during car journeys, but also to sit in the stationary car to watch movies and series. The background to this is that the conditions for optimal video enjoyment are often better there than at home. In this respect, the models would redefine the term drive-in movie theater.
Heise Medien is the official media partner of CES 2025. (nij)
