MINI’s Connected app – first introduced in 2010 – has been relaunched to “sharpen its focus even more on driving-related functions”.

The updated smartphone app will feature a new system called ‘MINI Streetwise’, offer improved Calendar and Online Search interaction between your phone and MINI, and also enable drivers to access more information specific to their car.

• Best traffic apps for iPhone and Android

‘MINI Streetwise’ combines the car’s sat-nav function and personal driving data (records of past journeys, such as journey duration and fuel consumption) to provide a recommended route on their phone before they get in the car. When the phone is connected, this route is automatically transferred to the navigation system.

The Calendar function has been integrated into the MINI’s infotainment system to allow the user to synchronise calendar events from their smartphone to the car, meaning all appointments and to-do lists can now be presented on the vehicle’s central screen. Addresses attached to calendar events can be quickly used by the car’s navigation system to generate routes, too.

Online search functionality has also been improved to allow the driver to search for places and addresses from the car. Again, these can be used to create a route for the driver, while phone calls can also directly be made from this feature.

The new Sports Instruments app can be used in the MINI central display to present realtime engine data, such as rev speed, engine temperature, and current engine output. This is accompanied by Force Meter, an app that gives the driver a graphical display of all the accelerating forces acting on the car. These in-car apps are installed via the smartphone Connected app itself.

• Best theory test apps

Another new feature this update brings is the ability to locate your MINI – and also generate a route to it from your current location.

The updated MINI Connected App will be available to download from mid-August 2015, on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play.

Now read our in-depth review of the current MINI hatch.