Lexus to Bring Apple CarPlay to Select Older Models

PeterF

agreed, reason to wait?

I don't know. Lack of it isn't really stopping me now, and the LS500 has many other charms :)

Ian Schmidt

I don't know. Lack of it isn't really stopping me now, and the LS500 has many other charms :)

I must agree. There is a lot to like about the LS500. I'm looking forward to seeing in at the beginning of February.

I'm also quite used to the current interface and don't find it that frustrating

I'm wondering what Acura's new Android based touchpad is going to be like to use. It looks like it has potential to be easier to use while driving than Lexus' current touch based control system.

On the other hand, I do not like touch screens in cars because I hate looking at fingerprints all over the screen, it makes the dashboard look dirty.

Acura's is weird because you have to touch the pad at the same place the widget on the screen is. So you have to look at the screen, figure out where the thing you wanted was, then look down at the touchpad. Lexus' various controllers, for all their other faults, don't require looking at the controller itself.

Ian Schmidt

Acura's is weird because you have to touch the pad at the same place the widget on the screen is. So you have to look at the screen, figure out where the thing you wanted was, then look down at the touchpad. Lexus' various controllers, for all their other faults, don't require looking at the controller itself.

i think only real difference is that in Acura, you basically just move selection focus from button to button.. you dont actually move a pointer. I wonder why Lexus does not have that instead of pointer, never made much sense. I guess it does give you less options possible on the screen.

So moving left on Acura touchpad will still give you move to the left, to the next button on the left.

As Acura described it, it's a full-on absolute touch pad, where pressing upper left on the pad taps upper left on the screen. That may well be an error on their part though.

In other news, people are now pushing Apple to offer car-less CarPlay (like Android Auto already has) in order to bypass BMW's weird subscription thing. This would let you do CarPlay's simplified in-car interface on the actual phone's screen.

Ian Schmidt

As Acura described it, it's a full-on absolute touch pad, where pressing upper left on the pad taps upper left on the screen. That may well be an error on their part though.

In other news, people are now pushing Apple to offer car-less CarPlay (like Android Auto already has) in order to bypass BMW's weird subscription thing. This would let you do CarPlay's simplified in-car interface on the actual phone's screen.

it is not an error, i am sure it will do something like that to an extent, but you will also be able to simply move it left or right to select buttons... however it wont be as mouse, but rather as one of the 5-6 buttons selection... it makes sense.

Ian Schmidt

In other news, people are now pushing Apple to offer car-less CarPlay (like Android Auto already has) in order to bypass BMW's weird subscription thing. This would let you do CarPlay's simplified in-car interface on the actual phone's screen.

This is a super interesting idea, would love to see this happen.

Ian Schmidt

In other news, people are now pushing Apple to offer car-less CarPlay (like Android Auto already has) in order to bypass BMW's weird subscription thing. This would let you do CarPlay's simplified in-car interface on the actual phone's screen.

Hopefully that includes Google Maps lol.

Ian Schmidt

In other news, people are now pushing Apple to offer car-less CarPlay (like Android Auto already has) in order to bypass BMW's weird subscription thing. This would let you do CarPlay's simplified in-car interface on the actual phone's screen.

that isnt that useful really, it is just big buttons interface to make it easier to press. You dont get any of real integration features.

krew

This is a super interesting idea, would love to see this happen.

Yeah, you can already do it on your Android phone if your car does not support CarPlay/Auto by downloading the Android Auto app from the Play Store. Just get a in-car phone stand and you're set.

Hollis told Automotive News that CarPlay and Amazon's Alexa voice assistant will be standard on the Avalon and future Toyota vehicles. Android Auto — for smartphones using Google software — will be next.

"Clearly CarPlay, and really any integration of technology, needs to occur in our vehicles," he said. "We start with it today."

Toyota's luxury division, Lexus, confirmed that Alexa would be integrated into its vehicles, but not CarPlay or Android Auto yet.

Hollis said the Apple and Android capability would be retrofitted onto older Toyota models, but that it would take time.

Michael Ramsey, an analyst at the Gartner consultancy, said Toyota's low-key rollout of smartphone integration is likely the result of an internal debate over sharing customer data with the tech giants.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20180122/OEM06/180129997/toyota-apple-carplay-detroit

spwolf

that isnt that useful really, it is just big buttons interface to make it easier to press. You dont get any of real integration features.

The integration features aren't that deep. This plus a Bluetooth connection to the car for audio/phone gets you most of the benefit.

meth.ix

Yeah, you can already do it on your Android phone if your car does not support CarPlay/Auto by downloading the Android Auto app from the Play Store. Just get a in-car phone stand and you're set.

The advantage of integration is the larger touch screen cp to the 5 or 6 inch screen. Ijs

Copley417

The advantage of integration is the larger touch screen cp to the 5 or 6 inch screen. Ijs

Welcome new member! Copley417

The official Lexus USA News Release for the North American debut of the UX line notes that it will mark the debut of Apple CarPlay in a Lexus vehicle, as well as Amazon Alexa compatibility.

Apple CarPlay Coming to Lexus UX Crossover

The first Lexus to get the advanced iPhone functionality.

View the original article post

Joaquin Ruhi

The official Lexus USA News Release for the North American debut of the UX line notes that it will mark the debut of Apple CarPlay in a Lexus vehicle, as well as Amazon Alexa compatibility.

i am going to correct you just a tiny bit with quote from PR:

All UX models will also come standard with Apple CarPlay phone functionality. Once a compatible iPhone is connected through a USB cable, drivers can access Apple Music, maps, make phone calls, and send and receive messages all through the multimedia display or with voice control through Siri.

It does not debut, it would mean that it is first car with it, when UX is being sold from December, I am pretty sure that ES will come earlier (August?) with standard CarPlay too.

spwolf

i am going to correct you just a tiny bit with quote from PR:

It does not debut, it would mean that it is first car with it, when UX is being sold from December, I am pretty sure that ES will come earlier (August?) with standard CarPlay too.

You're absolutely right. More accurate to say that UX was the first Lexus line announced to come with Apple CarPlay in North America, but 7ES should also have it (especially given its expected commonality with 5th-gen Avalon which debuted it first for Toyota overall) and it should go on sale a few months ahead of UX in North America.

spwolf

It does not debut, it would mean that it is first car with it, when UX is being sold from December, I am pretty sure that ES will come earlier (August?) with standard CarPlay too.

Yeah, I had a hell of a time writing my post -- pretty sure the ES will be available before the UX, so technically the UX will not be the first.

So, who thinks adding CarPlay is going to alleviate criticism about Lexus Remote Touch?

krew

So, who thinks adding CarPlay is going to alleviate criticism about Lexus Remote Touch?

Hopefully, it should.

Beyond that, though, 7ES will be the first of Lexus' high-volume models (RX and NX being the others) to transition to a TNGA architecture. Given that, and the ES's traditional-going-on-elderly demographic, I'd expect Lexus Remote Touch itself to receive attention and ergonomic improvements for 7ES.

krew

So, who thinks adding CarPlay is going to alleviate criticism about Lexus Remote Touch?

The criticism will just turn to it not supporting Android Auto. And when Lexus supports Android Auto, the criticism will shift to the remote touch being 'bad anyway' because it's not (insert the controller of the favorite brand of the reviewer).


That said, the high-perspective shot of the UX from your article is quite fantastic!

My question to Lexus: can older Lexus (say 2017/2018) system get upgraded to have the apple carplay capability?

Honestly regarding Android auto , it's way and I mean it way much more better and easy to use especially in the voice command than the rotten apple car play, also androAn not only one maker unlike the rotten fruit

Ray99

My question to Lexus: can older Lexus (say 2017/2018) system get upgraded to have the apple carplay capability?

Maybe ones with Enfrom 2.0? As in LC, LS and? Krew or Joaquin might know more... certainly not any older system.

Joaquin Ruhi

Hopefully, it should.

Beyond that, though, 7ES will be the first of Lexus' high-volume models (RX and NX being the others) to transition to a TNGA architecture. Given that, and the ES's traditional-going-on-elderly demographic, I'd expect Lexus Remote Touch itself to receive attention and ergonomic improvements for 7ES.

I think it will get latest system from LC/LS, with possibly more shortcuts like what UX got.

krew

Yeah, I had a hell of a time writing my post -- pretty sure the ES will be available before the UX, so technically the UX will not be the first.

Yeah, it is all about being able to market it early since there are no previous Lexi in that class.... unlike ES or even LS, where they dont want to talk about CarPlay since they have current model.

This is why UX mpg got released so early, 9 months before it goes on sale! Or why Corolla Hatchback got shown with interior and all the info, while our Auris is closed off with almost no info about interior because they want to sell current one.

Even UX in Europe has very limited PR outside of pics... no real info yet about sales, or mpg, simply because it will be close competition to NX... much closer than in the US.

Its really a good initiative by Lexus for Apple users.

Welcome to LE! @mrbansal