Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) has collaborated with Get My Parking to develop a system that can assist users in searching and navigating to available parking spaces.

The new system is built into the car's MBUX head-unit and provides navigation to Points of Interest (PoIs) including offstreet parking lots. It provides an overlay of the nearest available parking spaces on the map and prompts the user to initiate a route towards these spaces. The feature will be available across all models that are equipped with the 'Mercedes me connect'.

At present, the system can identify vacant parking spaces in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. Mercedes plans to add 45 more cities to the system in the coming months.

The 2021 Dzire VXi gets the same head-unit that is available in the Ertiga.

Maruti Suzuki has started dispatching the 2021 Dzire to dealerships across India. The VXi variant now comes with an updated infotainment system.

The infotainment system offered in the 2021 Dzire VXi is the same unit that is available in the Ertiga. Besides this, the car also gets features such as air-conditioning, electrically adjustable ORVMs, dual airbags, ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors.

A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment head-unit is available in the top-spec Dzire. The SmartPlay Studio system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The higher variants also get automatic climate control, projector headlamps, cruise control, keyless entry, engine start / stop button, among other features.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine remains unchanged for the 2021 model year. This engine puts out 89 BHP and 113 Nm and is available with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed AMT.

Source: MotorArenaIndia

The latest update will enable iPhone users to connect their phones to the infotainment head-unit.

Tata Motors has released a software update for the touchscreen infotainment system in the Hexa. Thanks to the latest update, the head-unit is now compatible with Apple CarPlay.

Tata Hexa is no longer on sale as Tata Motors is yet to introduce its BS6 version. However, the BS4 version came with a 7-inch touchscreen unit that had Android Auto but lacked Apple CarPlay. The latest update will enable iPhone users to connect their phones to the infotainment head-unit as well.

The BS4 version of the Hexa was offered with a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine in two states of tune. The base trim had 148 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 320 Nm @ 1500-3000 rpm. Higher variants had the same engine but with 154 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 400 Nm @ 1750-2500 rpm. Transmission options included a 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic.

Source: Rushlane

The MBUX Hyperscreen will debut on the upcoming EQS electric sedan.

Mercedes-Benz has showcased its next generation dashboard featuring a large curved display called the MBUX Hyperscreen.

The MBUX Hyperscreen consists of three displays. It includes the instrument panel, infotainment system and an entertainment screen on the passenger side. The central infotainment unit and the display use OLED technology and offer haptic feedback. The complete panel has a special 3-layer coating which Mercedes calls the 'Silver Shadow'. It is essentially a non-reflective layer that is claimed to be easier to clean.

The software used in the MBUX Hyperscreen is an evolution of the operating system used in the S-Class' infotainment head-unit. Mercedes claims that the AI adapts to user preferences and offers 20 additional features including seat ventilation, massage function and location-based ride height increase.

The MBUX Hyperscreen will debut on the upcoming EQS. It will be offered as an option on the new electric sedan.

Land Rover has showcased what is claimed to be the first infotainment system with two embedded SIM cards at CES 2020.

According to Land Rover, the dual-SIM setup enhances connectivity. It enables the Pivi Pro system to install over-the-air updates while it's connected to apps and streaming music. The Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA) technology can run in the background using a designated LTE model and eSIM. Additionally, users can connect two mobile devices to the infotainment head unit at once using Bluetooth.

The Pivi Pro system is powered by two Qualcomm Snapdragon 820Am Automotive platforms, each with integrated Snapdragon X12 modem.

Land Rover claims that production versions will come with 16 electronic modules that can be updated anywhere using cloud-based technology from CloudCar. It also gets driver assistance systems developed with Bosch. These include a 3D surround camera.

Tata Motors has partnered with location technology provider what3words to bring the company's addressing system in its cars.

what3words' technology enables drivers to enter a 3 word address by voice or text input and then navigate to the set location. The system is claimed to be accurate to within 3 meters.

The system divides the entire map into 3x3 meter squares and assigns each square a unique identifier made of three random words. For example - Gateway of India can be found at ///holiday.surprises.design. The three words can be entered into the car's navigation system. It also has an AutoSuggest feature.

The system is available in 36 languages, including 5 Indian languages - Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi.

Tata claims that the 3 word addressing system will make last mile navigation simple, safe, hassle-free and less time consuming.

The what3words application is available for free on iOS and Android platforms.

Elon Musk has tweeted that Tesla cars are likely to get the ability to stream Netflix and YouTube.

The streaming services will be available only when the car is stationary. They will be available while the car is charging or while waiting for a passenger. He also tweeted that once regulators approve autonomous driving, the streaming services will be made available even when the car is in motion. The videos are claimed to give a cinematic feel due to the cars' surround sound audio systems.

The video streaming services are more likely to suit the Model 3 and the Model Y as they have horizontally oriented touchscreen systems. The Model S and the Model X have vertically oriented touchscreen systems.

Maruti Suzuki has introduced the Smartplay Studio Dock app for Android and iOS devices. It can be paired with the car’s infotainment system using Bluetooth or an Aux cable. At present, the system is only compatible with the WagonR.

The apps interface is similar to the Smartplay Studio 2.0 system offered on newer Maruti Suzuki models. It has all the features offered in the touchscreen infotainment system. However, it does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The Smarplay Studio Dock app can also turn a mobile phone into a multi-information display. It provides information like mileage, low fuel alert, door open alert, seat belt reminder among others.

Thanks to BHPian SilentEngine for sharing this information with other enthusiasts.

The Titanium+ AT variant of the Ford EcoSport is no longer available with Sync3, voice recognition as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. 

Earlier this month, it was reported that Ford had removed some features from the Titanium+ variant of the EcoSport. These included the Sync3 infotainment system, cruise control, leather upholstery and ambient lighting. 

Ford later clarified that only the Titanium+ MT variant had lost these features, while the Titanium+ AT would be offered with Sync3 as before. This was confirmed through a leaked circular notifying dealers about an error in the brochure.

In just a couple of weeks since the update, Ford has now removed Sync3 from the Titanium+ AT trim. As the latest brochure indicates, Sync3 with voice recognition, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is only available on the EcoSport S.

According to Blackberry, more than 150 million cars now use its QNX software. That's an increase of 30 million cars since 2018.

Blackberry's QNX technology is used in advanced driver assistance systems, digital instrument clusters, connectivity modules, handsfree systems and infotainment systems. Brands like Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, KIA, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, and Volkswagen use this software.

Blackberry also provides OEMs with technology to protect hardware, software, applications and end-to-end systems from cyber attacks.