Roger Fingas
The 2017 Clarity Electric, equipped with Apple CarPlay, will ship to "select" dealerships in California and Oregon beginning Aug. 1, Honda announced on Monday.
CarPlay and Android Auto will be available through the vehicle's Display Audio system, the automaker said. Currently it's unclear what size touchscreen the sedan will use, or if people will have to pay extra for a compatible trim.
The vehicle is designed primarily for urban commuting, with a battery pack limiting range to about 89 miles. It can, however, achieve full power in a little over three hours with a 240-volt charger — using DC fast charging with the SAE Combined Charging System, it can hit 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.
Honda first teased the Electric in March, basing its design off the Clarity Fuel Cell. Another variant, the Plug-in Hybrid, will also be CarPlay-ready when it arrives sometime later this year. That vehicle may be the most important of the bunch, since it's scheduled to debut in all 50 U.S. states instead of a few limited markets.
The company didn't say what buying the Electric outright will cost, but an initial leasing option will require $269 per month for 36 months, plus taxes, fees, and a $1,730 deposit. That includes a federal tax credit — Californians will be able to save an additional $2,500 thanks to the state's Clean Vehicle Rebate.
A relative latecomer to CarPlay, Honda has been been playing catchup with other automakers like Kia, Chevrolet, and Volkswagen. Some other compatible Honda models include the Accord, Civic, CR-V, and Odyssey minivan.
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2 Comments
Yes, Honda is close to being one of carmakers with all of its vehicles with Carplay. They also have the Ridgeline and Pilot. Still need the Fit. I think Toyota is making a major mistake by holding out and pushing horrible in house solution. I love Toyotas, but next car will definitely be a Honda or other because of Carplay issue, although I wonder if Toyota isnt' building in capability for software upgrade?????? Otherwise, seems like a foolish gamble to be one of the few that doesn't offer it.
The range seems poor. Even for so called urban use, I would want at least twice that to even consider an electric car. Telsa seem to be the only company that realises this.