Roger Fingas
Automakers Honda and Porsche on Tuesday announced two new sports cars with support for Apple's CarPlay technology, namely the 2017 Civic Type R, and the 2018 911 GT3.
The 2017 Civic Type R will be Honda's first version of the car to be sold in the U.S., previous models having long been a staple of Japan and some other world markets. The Type R not only offers better performance than a regular Civic, but other racing-oriented upgrades like bucket seats, special driving modes, and a digital display capable of tracking things like g-forces and lap times.
The car will support both CarPlay and Android Auto through a 7-inch touchscreen interface. The vehicle will also come with a 540-watt sound system, spread over 12 speakers and supposedly so loud that it will be able to overpower engine noise.
The signature feature of Porsche's 2018 911 GT3 is a 500-horsepower engine, based off the 911 GT3 Cup built specifically for racing. Likewise the civilian model still has a racing chassis, with dynamic engine mounts and rear-axle steering.
The car will only support CarPlay, not Android Auto, but also offer LTE and Wi-Fi, plus compatibility with two Porsche iPhone/Apple Watch apps, Car Connect and Track Precision. The former provides some remote control functions such as geo- and speed-fencing, while the latter is explicitly for racing, designed to record and analyze track days.
The new Civic Type R should debut later this spring, costing somewhere in the middle $30,000s before delivery fees. The 2018 GT3 will come to the U.S. this fall, costing upwards of $143,600.
CarPlay is gradually becoming ubiquitous on new car models, though some gaps remain, most notably anything from Toyota. Most implementations are also still wired, with wireless only just beginning to take hold.
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19 Comments
I don't really mind the 'wired' thing. I'd plug the phone in anyway just to charge it.
CarPlay has been available in "normal" Civics for a while now. Works great in my daughter's 2017 Civic EX.
Every car manufacturers should adopt Carplay in their large customer base mid-tier consumer cars, Honda Civic, Accord and CRV are good examples. Wish few left behind large auto manufacturers like Toyota get to their senses sooner to adopt Carplay into their Corolla,Camry and RAV4. The day when everyone adopts wireless carplay, I will be dancing. Call Nirvana of modern technology adoption into slow pace auto industry. Sometime you wonder why GM and Volkswagen able to support carplay in so many of their models while rest of car manufacturers again like Toyota is sucking their thumb. Only customers can make difference by not buying vehicles if don't come equip with carplay.
It just pisses me off that the car companies are "premiumizing" this feature. Rolling it out in their most exotic (and expensive) models first. Do they really think that will drive sales for those models? Meanwhile, some like me keep our wallets in our pockets until the model we want includes it.
What do car manufacturers charge for CarPlay as a new car option?
How does that cost compare with related traditional options? (e.g., GPS Navigation)