Siri Hitching A Ride On Chevrolets In 2013
November 27, 2012
Don’t look now, but Siri is taking a trip. General Motors will become the first carmaker to integrate Apple’s voice assistant into their vehicles, the company has announced at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.
Beginning next year, the Chevrolet Spark (1LT, 2LT) and Sonic LTZ and RS will integrate Siri. The service will run through the cars’ standard Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system. To operate, users will need an iOS device inside the car.
This combination will let users direct Siri to perform a number of tasks while safely keeping their eyes on the road. With Siri Eyes Free mode, users will be able to interact with their iOS device using voice. As an added bonus, both the Spark and the Sonic will come with six months of OnStar's premium Directions and Connections service.
In the Spark and Sonic RS, owners can use Siri in Eyes Free mode to:
According to Cristi Landy, Chevrolet market director for small cars:
- Make voice-activated, hands-free calls to Contacts on their iPhone
- Play songs in the iTunes library, and even switch music sources automatically from AM/FM/XM radio to iPod mode
- Listen to, and compose and send an iMessage or text message to a phone number or anyone in saved Contacts
- Access Calendar and add appointments
- Minimize distraction even more by keeping the screen of the iPhone from lighting up, even when Siri answers simple questions such as game scores or the dates of national holidays
- While in Eyes Free mode, Siri will not provide answers to complex questions that require displaying a web page.
It says a lot about our commitment to small-car customers that Chevrolet has announced that Siri Eyes Free capability will be available in the Spark and Sonic well before the luxury brands. Safe, easy, reliable and portable connectivity is a top priority for our customers, and Siri complements MyLink’s existing capabilities to help deliver an incredible driving experience.Take a look: This is interesting news. Personally, I can't wait to see this in action. If proven successful, Siri will almost certainly be hitching a ride in other cars in the future. Does this news make you more likely to purchase a Spark or Sonic?
