Starting next year, two new car models will have built-in Siri integration, and both of them are from Chevy: the Spark and the Sonic. General Motors announced the cars’ forthcoming integration with Apple’s personal voice assistant service on Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.
Notably, the automaker isn’t adding Apple’s service to any of high-end models just yet, but these two smaller cars, which are aimed at buyers on a budget. But these two models will come with the newest version of Chevy’s MyLink connected car system, which may explain why these are the first two cars to support Siri integration.
If the future owners of those cars have an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 running iOS 6, they can connect their phone to the car’s infotainment system and interact with their phone through voice commands while on the road. There will also be a button in the steering wheel that will put Siri into “Eyes Free” mode. That’s intended to let Siri work as normal, but without lighting up the iPhone’s screen so the driver is more likely to keep their eyes on the road.
Eyes Free mode lets drivers use Siri to make hands-free calls, listen to, write and send texts, find and make calendar appointments, and call up songs to play. While in that mode Siri won’t give answers to complex questions if it requires the answer to be displayed on a webpage.
Apple first announced its intention to move its voice assistant software to connected cars in June. Other brands said to be working on in-car Siri integration include Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes and Toyota. Ford is a notable exception that will not be participating.
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