This fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Opel AG will present the world with the heavily-anticipated 2015 Opel Astra K, otherwise known as the 2015 Vauxhall Astra K in the UK. With the new generation of the compact hatchback (and sedan), the manufacturer will gradually introduce Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility to the entire lineup.
The next-gen Opel Astra is slated to come with the Touch R 700 and Navi 900 IntelliLink infotainment systems. The updated units will be present on the Insignia and Karl. An even newer media system dubbed R 4.0 IntelliLink will be offered on the next-gen Opel Astra, as well as the current generations of the Karl, Adam and Corsa urban dwellers.
The two infotainment systems mentioned beforehand will integrate Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. It goes without saying that there’s a catch with initial roll-out. The R 4.0 IntelliLink will be compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration at the beginning of the 2016 model year.
In European money, that means starting October 1st. As for the R 700/Navi 900 IntelliLink systems, Android Auto compatibility is scheduled to arrive “in the course of 2016,” according to a statement.
There’s a similar delay at Chevy, with Android Auto compatibility arriving later in the 2016 model year on the 8-inch MyLink infotainment system.“We are offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration across the range, at the most attractive prices on the market." says Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann.
Google’s interface will require phones running Android Lollipop 5.0 or above. Apple’s take on onboard phone integration requires the user to have an iPhone 5 or above.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay display a 'Projection' icon on the infotainment system’s touchscreen when a smartphone is not connected. It changes to indicate either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto when a phone is connected via USB. Look forward to goodies such as Google Now, Siri, Maps, Skype, WhatsApp, and so on.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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