Connected Car: The concept is taking root in sedans, hatchbacks and now trucks – Part 3

BMW takes a traditional approach at the connected car concept but with a new angle. The dashboard is sans internet connectivity and needs an external device to connect. However, all the apps and services reside inside the system called BMW ConnectedDrive.

The user needs to install a client-side version of the ConnectedDrive to connect the smartphone to the car’s system. After that it is all 328i’s responsibility to connect with Google, Pandora, Facebook, Twitter or any other applications to the liking of most users.

In addition, it also plays music from smartphone, connects calls directly from handset’s phonebook and can also send texts by recognising the voice of the speaker. The most used apps in the BMW are Facebook, Twitter, MOG and Pandora.

2013 Lexus GS 450h

This Lexus is one of the best rides in the world, given that it has a hybrid power system, a gas engine and an electric power train. It is one of the most comfortable and powerful rides in the world when it comes to electric and gas supplies, respectively. Being a compact sedan, it also has one more astonishing feature, internet connectivity.

Though it lacks the internet connectivity capabilities on its own, it has all the necessary apps and services that one would require on the move. Like the BMW 328i, it connects to the internet via the smartphone.

Getting the inspiration from the German carmaker, Lexus provides the owner with the smartphone app to tap into the car’s system called Enform. However, it is only available on iPhone as of yet. Enform serves up applications like OpenTable and Yelp to find restaurants and cafes, Pandora and iHeartRadio as internet radios and Bing to find destinations.

2012 Toyota Tacoma

As mentioned earlier, it is not only cars that have integrated the web with in-cabin technology. Trucks like the Tacoma are also embracing the new concept. The internet integration in the truck makes a strong statement that the Japanese company is as versatile in technology adoption as it is in styles and engine powers.

The new Tacoma tows the same line as Lexus 450h with an iPhone app delivered to the owners. The application connects to the Enform seamlessly and serves in-built apps like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, Pandora and Bing to assist the driver on the go.

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Posted by Usman Khalid on Jul 13 2012. Filed under Sci-Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.