FCA Uconnect to connect to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and maybe AR in future

At CES, FCA announced that its UConnect infotainment systems will be improved and will be compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.  Uconnect is the infotainment system found in Chrysler, Fiat, Dodge and RAM vehicles.

In 2016, FCA Uconnect systems features will include capacitive touchscreens, performance improvements of faster startup time, enhanced processing power, heightened touchscreen responsiveness, vivid touchscreens with improved resolution and brightness,.

The Uconnect 8.4 NAV system, and select others within the global portfolio will include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

• Apple CarPlay: Apple CarPlay provides drivers with a smarter, safer way to use an iPhone inside a car. Apple CarPlay seamlessly integrates an iPhone with the car’s built-in display and controls in addition to featuring Siri voice control. Now drivers can make phone calls, access music, send and receive messages, get directions optimized for traffic conditions and more while staying focused on the road.
• Android Auto: Android Auto automatically provides drivers with a safer way to use Android while driving. The system will share useful information while you drive and makes it easy to access the best of Google. It features Google Maps with free voice-guided navigation, live traffic information, lane guidance; on-demand access to 30 million songs with Google Play Music; the ability to place phone calls or send and receive messages while keeping your hands on the wheel; and ask Google search any question. Android Auto also makes it easy to access popular apps and content from the Uconnect system’s touchscreen.

Visitors to CES were able to see their viw intelligent transportation with personalized driving experiences than can seamlessly integrate a vehicle, technology, the environment and people to help drivers achieve Car. Life. Balance.

The concept explores:

• Predictive technology – Monitor driver’s daily habits, including traffic patterns, personal calendar events and personal preferences so the vehicle’s Uconnect system can deliver personalized information to the driver at the exact moment needed.
• Vehicle-to-X communication – Concept enables vehicles to communicate with each other and the roadside. FCA believes integrating wireless technology into the vehicle can help provide drivers with warnings and reduce the risk of such common crash types as rear-end, lane change and intersection crashes.
• Workload manager – Helps to limit distraction by recognizing when the driver may be in a critical driving situation and prioritizing which information is presented to the driver in those instances.
• Privacy mode – Detects when a passenger is present in the vehicle and can transfer the driver’s personal information from the Uconnect system to the driver’s instrument cluster.
• Intelligent concierge – A concept programmed to learn driver preferences and provide personalized suggestions in anticipation of driver needs.

The technology concept also explores how a vehicle can share location information with other vehicles on the road in the driver’s community, including:

• Community tagging – Enables the vehicle to identify hazardous road conditions and automatically share that information with community members who may be approaching the same location.
• Follow-me mode – Enables community members to request to follow other vehicles.
• Augmented reality heads-up display – Transforms the windshield into a display that provides information to assist the driver, such as blind spot detection, parking assistance and ice and snow road lane assists.