The 2017 Hyundai Elantra arrives with Android Auto

[Tom Morgan]

Hyundai has confirmed that the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, launching this month, will arrive with Android Auto, meaning drivers can stay focused on the road.

The car, which will also support Apple CarPlay, will display the Android Auto interface on the vehicle’s 7-inch touchscreen display, which also arrives with a rearview camera, voice texting and access to music stored on the driver’s smartphone.

Hyundai says that Android Auto provides a ‘seamless and intuitive’ experience, playing nicely alongside Google Maps to offer a range of hands-free features. The car group says that Android Auto is compatible with phones running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher.

A healthy list of Android Auto-compatible apps can be found on the Play Store, with the list including BBC Media Player, KSL News, Radio Paradise, Amazon Music, Skype and Spotify.

With Google Maps integration, Hyundai Elantra owners can set appointment reminders, make and receive calls, respond to text messages using voice commands and more.

Earlier in the month, we reported that another car giant, Ford, is also rolling out Android Auto to its vehicles. Ford plans to add the tech to all its vehicles currently equipped with Sync 3.

Hyundai’s full press release below:

Automaker’s Best-Selling Model Offers Smartphone Integrations for More Consumers ​

Fountain Valley, Calif., Jan. 15, 2016 – The 2017 Hyundai Elantra launches this month with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™. CarPlay is the smarter, safer way to use an iPhone® in the car, taking the things users want to do with their iPhone while driving and putting them right on the car’s built-in display, so drivers can stay focused on the road. For Android phone users, the 2017 Elantra is also compatible with Android Auto.

Both smartphone integrations will be available on the 2017 Elantra’s seven-inch Display Audio touchscreen system with rearview camera and Hyundai’s eight-inch touchscreen navigation system with voice texting, access to music stored on the phone and third-party audio apps.

“The Sonata Hybrid not only offers buyers great value at the pump, it’s also packed with technology and convenience features like blind spot detection, lane-departure and forward collision warnings,” said Jane Francisco, Editor in Chief, Good Housekeeping. “The Sonata had the best gas mileage, delivering an incredibly quiet and relaxing ride in our tests.”

CarPlay delivers an instantly recognizable experience to iPhone users that will help reduce driver distraction due to its familiarity. CarPlay support lets drivers make calls, get directions optimized for traffic conditions, listen to music, and access messages. With CarPlay, Siri provides drivers an eyes-free experience by responding to requests through voice commands that are easily and directly accessed through the steering wheel’s voice button. Using a Lightning connector, CarPlay works with iPhone 5 and current models running the iOS 7.1 or higher operating systems. Elantra provides an available second USB port for charging because of this wired connection.
Elantra is also compatible with Android Auto for seamless and intuitive operation of the most commonly used smartphone functions including navigation with Google Maps™, streaming audio, voice-controlled search capabilities and over 40 approved smartphone apps. Android Auto is compatible with Android phones running Android 5.0, Lollipop or higher.

The CarPlay roster of supported apps can be found at the following link: http://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/. Android Auto’s app roster can be found here: g.co/androidauto. Apple and Google plan to add more third-party apps in the future, and these will not require any vehicle software updates.

In early 2016, Hyundai will have additional information regarding the availability of CarPlay and Android Auto on other models. This will include information on how existing owners of compatible vehicles with Hyundai’s fourth-generation navigation system or Display Audio can update their vehicles with these features. Android Auto is currently available on 2015 and 2016 Sonata models.

DISPLAY AUDIO
Hyundai’s Display Audio system features a high-resolution seven-inch color touch-screen display optimized specifically for smartphone integrations and the latest generation of Blue Link.

In addition, Display Audio incorporates Hyundai’s latest and most innovative in-vehicle technology by offering a simple, multi-use home screen, HD Radio® capability, mixed AM, FM and SiriusXM presets, along with Pandora-link integration.

Additional Display Audio Features:

• Integration with Apple’s Siri-powered “Eyes Free” mode
  • Functionality allows owners of compatible vehicles to use the voice command button on the steering wheel to ask Siri questions without taking their eyes off the road
  • Siri Eyes Free supports making calls, selecting and playing music, composing and reading back text messages, using Maps and getting directions, reading notifications, finding calendar information, and adding reminders, among other functions
• Integration with Google’s voice actions and predictive Google Now functionality through Android Auto
  • Functionality allows owners of compatible vehicles to find destinations in Google Maps, set appointment reminders, make and receive calls, respond to text messages with intuitive voice commands, and more
• Pandora integration
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with enhanced features
  • Pause, back and play for current station
  • Automatic recording of top six presets
• SiriusXM Travel Link
  • Sports scores and schedules, stock ticker, movie times, fuel prices and weather/alerts
• Advanced voice recognition
• Multi-touch screen that supports swipe and wipe gestures
• New home screen with multiple functions

Display Audio combines the best of phone-based connectivity technologies with Blue Link. Blue Link provides a full suite of safety and diagnostic features, as well as features that are only possible with an embedded telematics system, such as remote engine start, stolen vehicle recovery and remote door lock/unlock.

EIGHT-INCH NAVIGATION SYSTEM
Hyundai’s eight-inch navigation system offers an enhanced display and home screen that shows map and music information, regardless of the music source. The Blue Link Guidance package (three-month trial included) works with Hyundai’s on-board navigation system by providing Destination Search, powered by Google™, as well as POI Web Search and Download to help you get to your destinations via your connected car. Owners can make the most of SiriusXM Travel Link with the ability to send searched locations to their car’s navigation system.

NEXT-GENERATION BLUE LINK
Blue Link brings seamless connectivity directly into the car with technology like Remote Start with Climate Control, a Monthly Vehicle Health Report, Remote Door Lock/Unlock and Stolen Vehicle Recovery. Remote features can be accessed via Hyundai’s smartphone app or Web portal. Blue Link also features maintenance alerts and safety features, such as Automatic Collision Notification and SOS. The next-generation Blue Link system uses a 4G connection. The Blue Link Connected Care package includes safety and diagnostic features and is standard for one year on equipped models.


HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and In-Vehicle Service Scheduling.
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