Jeep & Porsche reveal new vehicles equipped for Apple's CarPlay
Two major automakers, Jeep and Porsche, this week announced early details on new vehicles supporting Apple's CarPlay -- the latter company offering the platform on an unusually large 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Jeep's 2017 Compass, a compact SUV, will offer both CarPlay and Android Auto on 7- and 8.4-inch configurations of the Uconnect dash interface. A 5-inch screen will be available, but lack support.
The new Porsche is the 2018 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which the German company describes as the first plug-in hybrid to become a flagship in the Panamera line. Its touchscreen will be among the largest of any supporting CarPlay, whether built-in or aftermarket. It's in fact just 0.6 inches short of Apple's biggest iPad Pro, drawing a closer comparison to the 17-inch display in the Tesla Model S.
The new Panamera model will also support control of charging functions through the Porsche Connect app, which supports both the iPhone and the Apple Watch.
Neither Jeep nor Porsche have provided firm release dates, and pricing for the 2017 Compass is unavailable. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, though, will start at $184,400, plus $1,050 for delivery. An even more expensive version, the Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive, will run upwards of $194,800.
Both implementations of CarPlay are likely to require wired connections to an iPhone. Wireless support, promised by Apple a long time ago, is only due to make its real debut through 2017 BMW models, as well as an upcoming Alpine receiver.
Jeep's 2017 Compass, a compact SUV, will offer both CarPlay and Android Auto on 7- and 8.4-inch configurations of the Uconnect dash interface. A 5-inch screen will be available, but lack support.
The new Porsche is the 2018 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which the German company describes as the first plug-in hybrid to become a flagship in the Panamera line. Its touchscreen will be among the largest of any supporting CarPlay, whether built-in or aftermarket. It's in fact just 0.6 inches short of Apple's biggest iPad Pro, drawing a closer comparison to the 17-inch display in the Tesla Model S.
The new Panamera model will also support control of charging functions through the Porsche Connect app, which supports both the iPhone and the Apple Watch.
Neither Jeep nor Porsche have provided firm release dates, and pricing for the 2017 Compass is unavailable. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, though, will start at $184,400, plus $1,050 for delivery. An even more expensive version, the Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive, will run upwards of $194,800.
Both implementations of CarPlay are likely to require wired connections to an iPhone. Wireless support, promised by Apple a long time ago, is only due to make its real debut through 2017 BMW models, as well as an upcoming Alpine receiver.
Comments
I don't have CarPlay in my old Toyota, but I do have a Pioneer after-market car stereo with USB input and I don't have any problems with plugging my phone with a cable.
I might as well take advantage of the power that my car's engine is generating while I'm behind the wheel. The phone isn't going to charge itself.
For instance, say I'm listening to music and have the Now Playing screen up but I want to go to the home screen. First, I have to "scroll" left from the Play/Pause button to the Last Track button. Then another turn of the wheel to the left (I can also nudge the wheel side to side to get the same action on screen) takes me to the top row of controls, even though the Home button is left of the Last Track button. Then I have to scroll through all of the buttons on the top row before the selection will get to the Home button.
Obviously, if it was a touch screen I could touch the Home button and be done.
One thing that surprised me is that "Hey, Siri" works for pretty much everything you'd expect; changing music, initiating calls, sending texts, checking the weather or sports scores, etc. I haven't tried asking it to do any HomeKit actions yet, but I'll give it a shot.
This article references to the fact the Panamera will come with the largest screen ever supporting carpal, nothing else.
Now, Wireless Carplay is supposedly coming in 2017 in Europe on selected models.
My Boxster 718 is being delivered in June and I am hoping it comes with wireless carpal ...
Anyone know if the iOS 10.3 beta addresses the annoying autoplay bug in CarPlay? Plug your iPhone into a CarPlay receiver and it autoplays music from it. Maybe Apple can put a master autoplay on/off switch on CarPlay.