USA - Audi of America joins forces with Traffic Technology Services to alert drivers when traffic lights turn red/green.

• New Traffic light information system communicates with municipal traffic signals to inform the driver when traffic lights turn from red to green.
• Traffic light information system is first step in vehicle to infrastructure
  (V2I) integration, set to launch in select smart cities this fall in the U.S.
• System will be available on select 2017 Audi Q7, A4 and A4 allroad® models with Audi connect®.

Audi of America in conjunction with Traffic Technology Services (TTS) will be launching the first V2I technology called Traffic light information that will be arriving on select 2017 Audi Q7, A4 and A4 allroad® models this fall.

“Continuous innovation in connected car services and advanced driver assistance systems that enrich and improve the customer experience is at the core of the Audi brand and our collective future,” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America.

Traffic light information, an Audi connect PRIME feature, enables the car to communicate with the infrastructure in select cities and metropolitan areas across the U.S. 

The car receives real-time signal information from the advanced traffic management system that monitors traffic lights. The link between vehicle and infrastructure is routed via the on-board LTE data connection and Traffic Technology Services, Inc. servers.

While waiting at a connected traffic light, the driver information system in the instrument cluster, as well as the head-up-display (if equipped), indicates the time remaining until the signal changes to green.

"This feature represents Audi’s first step in vehicle-to-infrastructure integration," said Pom Malhotra, General Manager, Connected Vehicles. 

"In the future we could envision this technology integrated into vehicle navigation, start / stop functionality and can even be used to help improve traffic flow in municipalities. These improvements could lead to better overall efficiency and shorter commuting times."

Audi of America will begin to roll out the new Traffic light information as part of its suite of Audi connect PRIME services later this fall in select smart cities and metropolitan areas across the country through 2017 and beyond. The feature is available on 2017 Audi Q7, A4 and A4 allroad® models built after JUNE 1st, 2016.

Traffic light information is the latest in a line of pioneering connected car innovations by Audi. In 2010, Audi was the first manufacturer to offer a broadband enabled vehicle. Since then, Audi connect® has continued to expanded on its industry-leading services and capabilities. 

In 2014, Audi was the first manufacture to offer 4G/LTE Broadband connectivity. Strategic partnerships and a proprietary scalable infotainment architecture has allowed Audi to continuously offer our customers the latest in mobile connectivity solutions.

Vauxhall is offering state-of-the-art new infotainment and connectivity in its new Mokka X SUV.

• Smartphone integration through R 4.0 IntelliLink and NAVI 900 IntelliLink
• “Guardian angel” with the Vauxhall OnStar personal connectivity and service assistant

Vauxhall is offering state-of-the-art new infotainment and connectivity in its new Mokka X SUV including IntelliLink and the personal connectivity and mobility assistant, OnStar.

R 4.0 IntelliLink and NAVI 900

Vauxhall’s latest generation IntelliLink infotainment software gives owners a simple way to bring the world of smartphones and apps into their Mokka X. NAVI 900 IntelliLink is standard on Design Nav and Elite Nav models, or as an option for £700, while R 4.0 IntelliLink is standard on Active and Elite models.

The Mokka X with R 4.0 IntelliLink features a seven-inch touchscreen as well as USB and Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone calls, audio streaming and viewing photos and videos. Like NAVI 900 IntelliLink, it is also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

By using Android Auto, customers can access Google Maps, Google Now and can talk to Google. The ecosystem of audio and messaging apps is constantly growing, and currently includes WhatsApp, Skype, Google Play Music, Spotify, and podcast players. A full list of supported apps is available at https://support.google.com/androidauto/

Apple CarPlay enables drivers to make calls, send and receive messages and listen to music through the touchscreen or by voice via Siri. Apple CarPlay supported apps include Phone, Messages, Maps, Music and a number of compatible third party apps. A full list of apps can be found at apple.com/ios/carplay

By using the “Projection” icon on the infotainment touch-screen, drivers can simply select their preferred application when a compatible phone is connected via USB, making IntelliLink easy to use. Android Auto requires a phone running Android Lollipop 5.0 operating system or above, while Apple CarPlay requires an iPhone 5 or later (click here for a list of compatible phones http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/owners_services/help-and-advice/compatibility.html).

Navi 900 IntelliLink is for customers who prefer an integrated navigation system, where the display and operation are via the eight-inch colour touchscreen. IntelliLink enables audio streaming, voice control and audio SMS messages, as well as watching videos when the car is stationary. The navigation system also features maps of more than 30 European countries, can be displayed two or three-dimensionally and controlled via voice command. Up to 60 radio stations, destinations, contacts, telephone numbers or playlists can be saved as “Favourites”.

Peace of mind for Mokka X drivers with OnStar

With the personal connectivity and service assistant OnStar, Mokka X owners get a “guardian angel” at their side – 24/7, 365 days a year.  Standard across the Mokka X range, OnStar automatically reacts in an emergency, alerting an OnStar advisor if the airbags are deployed in an accident.

Automatic crash response (ACR) is one of the many innovative features of OnStar, which makes driving more convenient and ensures best connectivity. In addition to ACR, the unique service, with friendly advisors instead of a recorded message, remotely unlocks doors, downloads destinations directly to the vehicle’s navigation system, sends emails on vehicle health and offers a 4G/LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

The most popular OnStar service is the myVauxhall smartphone app, which enables remote locking/unlocking of doors, online vehicle location and honking the vehicle’s horn and flashing its lights. Customers can also call up important data such as oil condition or tyre pressures, send destinations to the in-car navigation system and manage the car’s embedded Wi-Fi hotspot, which allows up to seven devices to connect in and around the vehicle.

Volvo Cars is the first car maker to integrate the hugely popular Spotify music streaming service globally.

Volvo Cars is the first car maker to integrate the hugely popular Spotify music streaming service globally in its new cars, starting with the new Volvo XC90, S90 and V90 this spring, it was announced at the 2016 Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.

The Swedish car maker has worked closely with the popular music streaming service to ensure a natural and familiar user interface in the car. The integration takes advantage of Spotify’s most appreciated features using the large real-estate of the tablet-like touch screen in the new XC90, S90 and V90, and does away with the need to use a smartphone for music streaming while on the road.

Native integration

“Anyone that has used Spotify knows how great it is – you have access to your favourite music, all the time. We are very proud of our unique and custom-made interface for Spotify,” said Björn Annwall, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service at Volvo Cars.

Accessing Spotify will require a Premium subscription. A 30-day free trial period will be available for those new to the service. The app will be available for Volvo owners in all countries where Spotify is available.

“As before, you can still play music from your Spotify smartphone app in your car, or you can use the in-car app, which will contain all of your favourite playlists, artists and albums. And with Spotify’s ability to deliver extremely high-quality streaming, it has never been a better time to get the most out of the Bowers & Wilkins sound system in our new XC90, S90 and V90,” concluded Björn Annwall.

At present, Spotify is also available to stream in Volvo models via Bluetooth or through Apple CarPlay. However, the native application in Volvo Cars’ Sensus user interface in the new XC90, S90 and V90 provides a much richer experience and a search functionality that non-native applications cannot deliver. 

Volvo’s integrated Spotify application includes the much appreciated Spotify Connect functionality, which allows passengers to use their mobile devices as remote controls for the Spotify in-car app without the need to connect their devices to the car or drain their batteries.