Automotive

Volvo reveals its take on Apple CarPlay for new XC90

Volvo reveals its take on Apple CarPlay for new XC90
Navigation, audio and climate control settings are all adjusted through the screen
Navigation, audio and climate control settings are all adjusted through the screen
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Volvo's new "Sensus" infotainment system features a large touchscreen to replace the array of buttons that we see in most cars
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Volvo's new "Sensus" infotainment system features a large touchscreen to replace the array of buttons that we see in most cars
Navigation, audio and climate control settings are all adjusted through the screen
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Navigation, audio and climate control settings are all adjusted through the screen
Volvo's new Sensus infotainment system
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Volvo's new Sensus infotainment system
Volvo's new Sensus infotainment system is based around a large central touchscreen
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Volvo's new Sensus infotainment system is based around a large central touchscreen
Volvo's "adaptive digital instrument cluster"
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Volvo's "adaptive digital instrument cluster"
Apple CarPlay allows smooth integration of Lightning-equipped Apple devices into the car
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Apple CarPlay allows smooth integration of Lightning-equipped Apple devices into the car
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Volvo has shown how it will integrate Apple CarPlay into its future infotainment systems by releasing details of the upcoming XC90's Sensus touchscreen setup.

The new XC90, which is set for a full reveal later this year ahead of a 2015 release, features a large central touchscreen in the dashboard that takes the place of most buttons for the car's interior controls. This central screen interacts with what Volvo calls its "adaptive digital instrument cluster," which replaces a traditional speedometer and rev-counter. A head up display also projects key information onto the windscreen, and the touchscreen is supplemented by wheel-mounted buttons.

Volvo's "adaptive digital instrument cluster"
Volvo's "adaptive digital instrument cluster"

The XC90 will be Volvo's first car to take advantage of CarPlay, and brings the ability to mirror the display of lightning-equipped iOS devices directly onto the dashboard touchscreen, as well as joining the trend for integrating apps like Spotify.

The software allows drivers to control their phone and music through Apple's familiar layout on the dashboard, and Siri is able to read text messages aloud and reply to them, as well as acting as a form of voice control for phone functions. Volvo has not released details about how voice control will interact with the non-Apple aspects of their Sensus setup.

Apple CarPlay allows smooth integration of Lightning-equipped Apple devices into the car
Apple CarPlay allows smooth integration of Lightning-equipped Apple devices into the car

The touchscreen in the dash uses a hierarchy of tiles to organize major functions – when the driver selects a tile, the rest are compressed to give it precedence. In order to prevent users having to navigate layers of menus, Volvo says it has designed the system so that all functions will be easily accessible through these compressed icons. The inclusion of Infrared technology also means the screen should still work if you're wearing gloves.

The Sensus system also packs some new connected features, like the ability to find and pay for parking through the touchscreen in certain markets. As well as Apple's interface, the car uses HERE maps for navigation and can access updates and other services through an "Ericsson-based" cloud system.

Volvo is not the only manufacturer to take up CarPlay. Mercedes, Honda, Hyundai and Ferrari are all listed on Apple's website as up the system in 2014, and it will be interesting to see how they work the software into their own infotainment set ups.

Volvo's promo video below shows the system in action.

Source: Volvo

Volvo And Apple CarPlay

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6 comments
6 comments
Daishi
I didn't see them mention what the upgrade process is to replace it in 3 or 4 years. As nice as it is it's probably still behind what will ship with a base model Ford Fiesta in 2017.
I'm not a huge fan of owning an automobile that closely tied to a specific mobile phone but I'm sure a lot of other people prefer it that way.
Brian M
Volvo have really lost the plot by making it specific to Apple, its about as silly and a misguided as it gets. It immediately says to the majority of smart phone users in the world don't buy me!
There needs to a an International standard for this type of product, both from the physical electronic interface to the layout of the controls so drivers are not distracted trying to find out how to operate them, as is the problem with car radios.
But guess Apple being the nasty company it is (!) would ignore them anyway as they haver done with the standardisation of mobile phone/tablet connectors - or least the sprit behind them.
ileshR
That looks awesome... Volvo always comes with new features in Car and this time they have done something which is unbelievable. I really appreciates your idea and hope will soon see XC90 in market
Charles Guise-Brown
Why motor manufacturers persist with dominating the central instrumentation with legacy info - speed and revs - is ....well....trapped the the past
Mac McDougal
To me, it looks like a great way to increase your chances of a collision. A person would have to have the haptic sense of a concert pianist to hit those icons without looking.
Speedbump Andy
The logical all round system is bluetooth...which must be long in the tooth, or are they using that as a backup for Android and Window based devices? One would assume there is a bluetooth capability. If I have assumed wrong we can advertise it here first - Volvo seeking new marketing and products manager.