Holden has confirmed that the CDX trim level of its Barina subcompact car will be the first car in Australia to offer Siri Eyes Free Integration. The Barina is a rebadged Chevrolet Sonic, which itself is known in some markets as the Chevy Aveo (or new Aveo).
In driving the Barina CDX, which comes equipped with the MyLink infotainment system standard with the 7″ color touch-screen, customers will be able to utilize an iPhone running iOS 6 and direct Siri to perform a number of tasks while maintaining safe operation of the car by keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. The functionality was announced by Chevrolet for the Spark and Sonic in November of 2012.
Eyes Free functionality prevents the iPhone’s screen from lighting up, ensuring increasing the chance that drivers don’t look at their phone screen while driving. Owners need to connect (pair) their iPhone to the MyLink system via Bluetooth and then utilize the voice activation button on the steering wheel to begin and end sessions with Siri in Eyes Free mode. Available functionality includes, but is not limited to:
- Hands-free calls to contacts on the iPhone
- Listen to, compose and send an iMessage or text message to a phone number or anyone in saved Contacts
- Access the calendar to add appointments
MyLink also contains integrations with Stitcher Internet Radio, Pandora internet radio, BringGo navigation and TuneIn radio.
Comments
Should watch the tvc on youtube (see holden’s official channel), pretty good ad. Not as good as VE Ute’s Evolution ad but its good.
Audi and Mercedes jumping into bed with Google is a much smarter move than GM teaming up with Apple.
And you can pretty much guarantee that any Google/Android integration in cars will also work in parallel with iPhone. Just like pretty much everything else Google does for free.
Just wanted to add: Even just Google Maps OR Google Now (Google Search) alone would be amazing, having both those products plus everything else Google has at it’s disposal could significantly change the way people interact with their cars, far beyond just using Siri.
Not just the voice control that Google Now/Siri offer but the predictability of Google Now. Knowing that when you get in your car at 5:00pm you are likely going home and already has the fastest route planned with lowest traffic volume and no detours. Or if you get in your car a 8:00am with a 10:00am flight it knows and has your fight data and again best route to the airport. Plus has facts, restaurants, attractions, weather, etc, about the place you are flying too.
It knows your favorite.
And when it comes to search and most usable results, Google, the search king, takes that home too.
I wish GM would have partnered up with Google and integrated Android functionality and core apps into the fleet