Lexus Australia this week rolled out its Enform service, allowing owners to use their in-car multimedia screen to gain access to certain live web-based information, and promised that it is just the start of such in-car connectivity from the brand.
The Enform service encapsulates a suite of five different apps; Destination Download (where owners can download destinations on their smartphones and then transfer the data to the Enform app); Local Search (which allows owners to request address and direction details of local businesses and restaurants); Fuel Finder (which gives nearest fuel station locations and fuel prices); Weather and Enform Concierge (which provides a direct voice link to Lexus, via the call centre, dealer, breakdown service or live direction service) .
The apps are downloaded into the vehicles either at the dealer or at home via the Lexus website, and allow better integration than simply using a smartphone to glean such information.
According to Sean Hanley, Chief Executive of Lexus Australia, speaking at this week’s facelifted CT200h launch, the technology will evolve to allow a far more sophisticated level of connectivity, including the potential to wirelessly upgrade vehicle software, much like computers and smartphones do now.
“Eventually it will all work through connectivity. However, right now, with the tech where it is, it is a great way for Lexus to connect with its customers… it’s only early days for us.”
The apps use third-party information from sites such as Google Places to give directions to local business and motormouth.com.au for local fuel prices. The exception is Enform Concierge, which provides a voice link to the Lexus call centre.
While Lexus provides the Enform service for free in new Lexus IS models and those CT200h models supplied with sat-nav, the Destination Assist element of the service is free only for a month or 10 uses. After that, each use is charged at a rate of $2.97.
The service also relies on the owner having an active 3G or 4G data account with a mobile phone carrier and own an applicable iPhone or Android smartphone to provide the cellular link for the data transfer.
While the cost of the apps will vary according to the user’s mobile phone data allowance, the data packets transferred tend to be small.
The only other market in which Lexus offers Enform is the USA, where it was introduced in 2012. While the Australian Enform app uses the cellular network, the US employs the more sophisticated -- and expensive -- satellite network for its suite of Enform apps.