Mercedes-Benz has announced its plans to fully integrate the the driver's iPhone as well as Siri assistant into future A-Class models. It'll be like having your own personal, mildly-incompetent HAL.


Mercedes announced the plans today. A-Class owners will first load the Drive Kit Plus app onto their phones. They'll be able to access content—including Facebook and Twitter (both of which you totally need while driving)—through the in-vehicle display and navigate using a controller situated in the center armrest. Drivers will also be able to command the car's built-in Garmin GPS—which should come in handy when entering destination addresses. The DKP app also includes a "Car Finder" feature for locating a misplaced vehicle.

This marks the first time Apple's allowed Siri "off the leash," so to speak, and appear on a device that doesn't end in 4S. The voice-activated assistant will feature the same level of functionality as on the iPhone. Drivers will be able to access the calendar, change appointments, dictate texts and emails or have them read back, change radio channels, access music stored on the phone, or place calls—all verbally.


A-Classes with these new features are expected to debut March 8th at the 82nd International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland. [Daimler via iPodNN - IBTimes]

The system will be controlled via the built-in display. You can see the connected iPhone in the background.




The display offers quick links to Social, Media, and Places which navigate to the main features of the system.

