First Volkswagen Cars With CarPlay Support Arriving at Dealerships

[panjandrum]

I don't want a touchscreen in my car. Physical buttons and dials are better, because you don't need to look at them whilst driving.

As such, I'm afraid that CarPlay doesn't tickle my fancy. There are quite enough touch screens in the world without another one glaring at me in the car. It's also a good reason for not wanting an Apple Watch with its tiny screen glaring at you.

I hope I have made my disdain for too many touchscreens clear.

Agree 100%. I would absolutely support legislation which a) forces the deactivation of any app on a touch-screen device except those apps specifically designed for driving (GPS, Speedometer apps, track-day apps, etc.) and are also vetted through a safety board, and b) dictate that automotive manufacturers have to design all critical function with physical controls which (after an adjustment period for muscle-memory to kick in) be used 100% without taking eyes off the road.

And yes, for those who ask, I do actually own and drive two cars which meet this criteria, and no, I don't do anything on my iPhone in the car unless it is something that specifically aids driving (I even pull off the road to reset the GPS on the few occasions when I've needed to so do). (I once made the mistake of buying a new car with touch-screen controls for damn near everything, even the freaking climate! I'll never make that mistake again; it was downright dangerous to adjust anything while driving, and the controls that were provided on the steering wheel were woefully inadequate.)

Maybe something like "carplay" is a move in the right direction, but we don't really know yet. And, I'm fairly sure that there has been some evidence already that "hands-off" systems are actually very distracting also...

And no, I don't give a crap about the rights of passengers to use their touch-screen devices in a car, or a bus, or, or or... They can read a book, or talk, or do any number of other things. All the moronic distracted drivers on the roads suggests that the right to use touch-screen devices (or even phones) when in a motor-vehicle are rights that should be taken away.

 

[Noble Actual]

The only thing I don't like about this is the...car.

Yea, that's a pretty big problem.

 

[TehFalcon]

Retrofitting older models with an original headunit from VW is definetly not possible. There are too many differences in the underlying architecture of the car and the necessary hardware (keypanels, display and other stuff).

lol.... as a VAG expert your completely wrong. VW Headunits are plug and play. Some of the new MK7 units are different that they don't have the standard size of VW units but the one pictured in this article is the correct style and will plug in and bolt up just fine in mk5/mk6. That's one of the really cool things about Buying a platform car from VW. MK6 GTI stuff will work in say an EOS thats based on MK5, or even a MK6 based one. MK5/6/7 stuff will interchange. People have been installing the MK7 A/C controls in their MK6 because they look better. You can install a MK7 MFI/MFD in place of the older style MK4/5 and even the MK6 one.

 

[JanVil]

Skoda already have the MIB2 devices. I got mine this Monday.
Carplay has potential, but apple restricts the applications too much. For example, you cant search for music in Spotify, so you need to make a list with the music you want to stream or add it to My music.. Its the same with the Apple Music app.
There is still no video applications, which would be nice for the passenger.
I cant read texts, only get siri to read them for me.
and so on..

It just doesnt seem ready yet.

 

[David G.]

I saw two 2016 Golf R's on a car transport semi on I84 along the Columbia river a few weeks ago. Nice looking sleeper.

 

[Michael Scrip]

As for Carplay it sounds neat. But will you have to replace your car stereo every three or four years to maintain compatibility?

I thought the whole point of CarPlay is that your phone is the brain and the car's screen is just a dumb screen?

You'll likely replace your phone long before you replace your car.

 

[Steve121178]

Now make reliable cars lol

I've had a few GTI's and had zero problems (currently own a brand new fully specced GTI). I know many, many people who also own VW's and again no problems.

Every single vehicle that's ever been produced will require maintenance, anything mechanical does, but VW do not have a reputation for making unreliable cars.

 

[wido]

lol.... as a VAG expert your completely wrong. VW Headunits are plug and play. Some of the new MK7 units are different that they don't have the standard size of VW units but the one pictured in this article is the correct style and will plug in and bolt up just fine in mk5/mk6. That's one of the really cool things about Buying a platform car from VW. MK6 GTI stuff will work in say an EOS thats based on MK5, or even a MK6 based one. MK5/6/7 stuff will interchange. People have been installing the MK7 A/C controls in their MK6 because they look better. You can install a MK7 MFI/MFD in place of the older style MK4/5 and even the MK6 one.

Well, let's assume you get the headunit and take the engineering effort to add a Carplay button to the steering wheel and make sure all CAN messages are properly understood by the system, in order to have your car function as before. How are you gonna enable the features on the headunit? Just changing something via diagnosis bus won't work anymore. Newer features are protected by cryptographic protocols. Times have changed.

 

[jayisblessed]

I like the idea behind carplay, but the implementation just sucks. Why can't it just work like airplay and any app can send the UI to the car? This has become yet another category where either Apple or Google are in control, with no chance for a smaller developer to get involved. I'm sick of everything useful having to be either an Apple or Google product.

You can choose a simple car, with neither of them. Problem solved!

 

[Keane16]

I don't want a touchscreen in my car. Physical buttons and dials are better, because you don't need to look at them whilst driving.

As such, I'm afraid that CarPlay doesn't tickle my fancy. There are quite enough touch screens in the world without another one glaring at me in the car. It's also a good reason for not wanting an Apple Watch with its tiny screen glaring at you.

I hope I have made my disdain for too many touchscreens clear.

Completely disagree, for me Tesla has it right with he touchscreen dash coupled - but they're just our opinions/preferences. Thankfully there is plenty of choice out there for those that want purely dials and those that want touchscreens and those that like a combo.

There's a lot to be said for tactile feedback....I miss it.

Luckily Apple agree.

"CarPlay features Siri voice control and is specially designed for driving scenarios. It also works with your car’s controls — knobs, buttons or touchscreen. And the apps you want to use in the car have been reimagined, so you can use them while your eyes and hands stay where they belong."

https://www.apple.com/uk/ios/carplay/

From what I've seen it's a decent balance of touch when stopped, and steering controls/voice when driving allowing your eyes to remain on the road and your grip on the wheel.

That's why I disagree with that other comment saying CarPlay should just be like Airplay for apps - there would be way too many crazy people running all sorts of apps which would probably lead to a fair number of accidents. I'm glad Apple curates this, hopefully they open up a proper submission portal for CarPlay friendly apps when/if it takes off - so those that prefer alternative music services for example could use them.

 

[lowendlinux]

Skoda already have the MIB2 devices. I got mine this Monday.
Carplay has potential, but apple restricts the applications too much. For example, you cant search for music in Spotify, so you need to make a list with the music you want to stream or add it to My music.. Its the same with the Apple Music app.
There is still no video applications, which would be nice for the passenger.
I cant read texts, only get siri to read them for me.
and so on..

It just doesnt seem ready yet.

Skoda = VW

 

[tomekosiowy]

AUX input and Jack-Jack cable works perfectly in any car.

 

[dilbert99]

5" resistive 400x240 display, such a poxy screen. VW is supposed to be about quality...

 

[Godzirra]

Just checked the specs of my order and it's got a 6.5" screen and the CarNet is bundled in for 3 years, same as with all the SatNav updates. Haven't seen anything on the VW UK site as yet that says it's £whatever a year. But again, it could be the model you go for?

 

[tomekosiowy]

Get Japan car if you want a realy good car (in meaning of electronics design). VW (and Audi) had always big problems even with in-doors red-lights, rear wipers and other small things. You can still drive, but in details something is always out of order (in electronic-based elements mainly).

 

[Tech198]

lol @ Volkswagen

 

[bluespark]

Now make reliable cars lol

VWs are great cars. Are you joking!

 

[mr.steevo]

I thought the whole point of CarPlay is that your phone is the brain and the car's screen is just a dumb screen?

I have a bridge for sale.

 

[Boatboy24]

Volkswagen's own Car-Net apps, enabling features like...automatic crash notifications...

Are we talking: "Attention Driver: You have just crashed" ?

Or more like: "Attention Car-Net User: The system is about to crash." ?

 

[diamond.g]

Are we talking: "Attention Driver: You have just crashed" ?

Or more like: "Attention Car-Net User: The system is about to crash." ?

It is like the OnStar crash notification system.

In the event of an accident, if your airbags†† are deployed, you’ll automatically be put in contact with a VW customer service specialist who’ll call for help.

 

[omenatarhuri]

Prediction:
In the year 2000 CarPlay is going to cause accidents and a stupid law suit against Apple/car manufacturers in the USA.

 

[lowendlinux]

Prediction:
In the year 2000 CarPlay is going to cause accidents and a stupid law suit against Apple/car manufacturers in the USA.

ruh roh raggy I think you mistyped

 

[mattopotamus]

Skoda already have the MIB2 devices. I got mine this Monday.
Carplay has potential, but apple restricts the applications too much. For example, you cant search for music in Spotify, so you need to make a list with the music you want to stream or add it to My music.. Its the same with the Apple Music app.
There is still no video applications, which would be nice for the passenger.
I cant read texts, only get siri to read them for me.
and so on..

It just doesnt seem ready yet.

Uh...that is the point. I may be wrong, but I think it is illegal for a video to be playing on the front dash while the car is in motion.

 

[0098386]

"automatic crash notification".
I think I'd know if I was having a car crash, with or without mobile notifications.

 

[0098386]

Skoda already have the MIB2 devices. I got mine this Monday.
Carplay has potential, but apple restricts the applications too much. For example, you cant search for music in Spotify, so you need to make a list with the music you want to stream or add it to My music.. Its the same with the Apple Music app.
There is still no video applications, which would be nice for the passenger.
I cant read texts, only get siri to read them for me.
and so on..

It just doesnt seem ready yet.

You're surprised you can't watch videos or read texts on it?
You know that in a car you're supposed to be watching the road and not videos or reading messages?