Vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo will premiere the feature this week

Mar 3, 2014 07:24 GMT  ·  By

Minutes ago, Apple announced availability of CarPlay, the company’s all-new iOS-in-the-car integration which, as of now, comes with the latest models from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo.

Announced at the Geneva Motor Show, CarPlay allows iPhone users to make calls, use Maps, listen to music, and access messages either by speaking or with just a touch, all through the car’s dashboard.

Available as an update to iOS 7, CarPlay can be accessed from the car’s native interface, or via a push-and-hold of the voice control button on the steering wheel, which activates Siri.

Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo are premiering CarPlay this week, with additional car makers planning to add the feature to their respective models in the near future.

These auto manufacturers include BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota.

One of the features drivers will appreciate most in CarPlay is the integration with Maps to anticipate destinations based on information like recent trips, contacts, emails, or texts, complete with routing instructions, traffic conditions, and ETA. Siri will offer spoken turn-by-turn directions.

According to Apple, CarPlay is available as an update to iOS 7 and works with new-generation iPhones that sport the Lightning connectors.

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