Early next year, the Chevrolet Spark (1LT, 2LT) and Sonic LTZ and RS will integrate Siri, Apple’s voice-activated personal assistant. Chevrolet (www.chevrolet.com) made the announcement today at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.
Through the cars’ standard Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, customers with a compatible iPhone running iOS 6 can direct Siri to perform a number of tasks while they keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. To further minimize distraction, Siri takes hands-free functionality even further with an Eyes Free mode that enables users to interact with their iPhone using nothing more than their voice while keeping the device’s screen from lighting up.
Owners simply connect their iPhone with the MyLink radio via Bluetooth, pair with the system, and use the steering wheel voice activation button to begin and end sessions with Siri in Eyes Free mode. According to the folks at Chevrolet, in the Spark and Sonic RS, owners can use Siri in Eyes Free mode to:
° 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 the 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 won’t provide answers to complex questions that require displaying a web page.
Both the Spark and the Sonic also come with six months of OnStar’s premium Directions and Connections service. OnStar brings added safety, security and connectivity to these vehicles, including services such as Automatic Crash Response, Stolen Vehicle Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostics and Roadside Assistance, according to Cristi Landy, Chevrolet marketing director for small cars.
Most smartphone owners can also download the RemoteLink Mobile App, which allows OnStar subscribers to control and manage certain vehicle functions from their phone. For more information on OnStar’s services, visit onstar.com .