The necessary controller (aka black box) needed to bring Opel‘s recently-announced OPC PowerApp to life will cost about €300, GM Authority has learned. The app, which runs on Apple’s iPhone, allows users to see in real-time, as well a record for later review, 60 different data elements such as boost pressure, throttle position, lateral acceleration, and engine torque. In addition, drivers can record track lap times, braking points, section-specific speeds, and G-forces on specific portions of a race track and analyze the results to improve their driving skills after-the-fact.
The OPC PowerApp is currently compatible with the all-new Opel Astra OPC after the smartphone controller is installed either by the vehicle’s owner or an Opel dealership. The controller then transmits data from the Astra’s CAN (Controller Area Network) bus to the iPhone via a cable. Drivers can opt to purchase a FlexDock iPhone cradle that offers better access and visibility of the PowerApp data. The PowerApp retails for €0.79 (or $0.99 cents) in the iOS App Store.
Here’s our question to you: is €300 (or about $370) an amount you’re willing to spend to access an app similar to Opel’s PowerApp in say a high-performance Chevy, Buick, or Caddy? Sound off in the comments below!
Comments
Not worth it. Won’t be long until drivers can custom adapt their instrument to their wants. Eg coolant and tranny temps whine towing, mpg read outs etc hope it’s GM that starts this not say Kia or Furd
Not worth it. I have the Torque App on my Droid and a bluetooth ODP2 cable and can get almost all of this data for about $40…
Why always Apple app’s ? I use Windows Mobile 7.5 (Mango) on Samsung Omnia W and its far better better and faster than an Apple Iphone.
In my opinion, there is no mobile device “better” than the iPhone, but that’s a topic for another day.
The fact that the iPhone singularly holds the greatest device market share, Android holds the biggest OS share, while Windows Phone has about 1.5 percent of that should answer your question. And that’s not to mention the fact that iPhone users are the most profitable…
So if Android has the biggest OS share, doesn’t that mean that they also hold the biggest device(s) share, since they sell to all cell phone makers and Apple (the biggest reason why I hate them and why they will go the way of Blackberry) only allows the OS to be on the device that they make?
The iPhone is the single most popular device (smartphone). Meaning that it sells more than any other single device running another OS, including those from Samsung, HTC, Nokia, etc.
The difference, as it is always with Apple products, is the superior user experience compared to devices where one company makes the OS while another one makes the hardware. And Apple will be just fine even with a 1% market share worldwide, as it will still be the most profitable and innovative.
BlackBerry is where it is today because it completely stopped innovating after the company’s first 3-5 years of making devices. I attribute it to weak leadership.
It is a Europeans thing €.99 for the app. Plus tax for a total of €300.
Lol it’s 0.79 euros for the app (0.99 US cents). Then an additional 300 euros for the controller. I’d be all over it 🙂
When you say it will cost 300 euros – that’s how much it will cost customers, correct? How much does the actual part cost to manufacture? At that price point it’s certainly not worth it, considering as others above have noted that the same information can be obtained for approximately an order of magnitude less the cost. I doubt the components to deliver this information cost even a third of the price to consumers – it should be included for free with the purchase of the new vehicle. I could see this being more successful at a $50, $75 or maybe $99 price point but almost 4 bills is too wide a bridge. Although that’s an American perspective, Europeans are used to paying more.
WIth respect to the Apple/iPhone question, nearly every firm (sans direct competitors) wants to associate their products with Apple (Comcast does this a lot) because they are the most highly respected and coveted brand in the world, with a large cult following of consumers and media outlets alike, not to mention they make ridiculous amounts of money. An android version is warranted, a windows whatever phone is not – would they make a blackberry version? No. A windows version is at least 4th down on the list, but it’s really a rounding error in terms of consequence to consumer base.
Interested to see how these sorts of apps will pan out for Chevy, Cadillac, etc here and how they fit in with MyLink/Cue/etc.
Hello from a European. The controller is so expensive because it meets all the GM Standards and is proved to be safe. This is not the case for any of the third-party-modules. And it is planned for low volumes so far. It is a starting point. Early customers maybe need some Pioneering Spirit, or?
Do you like the functions of the App?