ANTHONY CRAWFORD GETS IN TOUCH WITH INCONTROL AT THE JAGUAR XF INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH
InControl is Jaguar’s new connected car system, which will be an option on all models in New Zealand from mid next year. Overseas, it is available on the F-type and XE and will be standard on the new XF from the end of this year.
The system covers telematics and remote services, apps and smartphone connectivity, and the infotainment system.
The entry-level InControl Touch system features an eight-inch touchscreen allowing fast access to all apps within the car, and remote services to the vehicle via your smartphone.
Your smartphone will allow you to check, from anywhere in the world, the car’s status, and to start the engine or even pre-heat or cool the cabin. InControl Secure tracks your vehicle if it is stolen.
InControl WiFi uses a roof-mounted antenna that gives 20 to 30 per cent better reception than a smartphone inside the cabin, and you can connect up to eight devices simultaneously.
Jaguar has also built a range of apps for the InControl platform so customers can personalise their experience for entertainment and connectivity.
The latest developments include Radio — a music-streaming app with a catalogue of 35 million-plus songs in 85 countries. There’s also Glympse — a real-time app that shares your location with the people you trust, and access to a 60,000-plus-title audio-book library.
Social media app Just right has also been included.
It’s a safe way to use your favourite apps on the move. It’s tailored for in-car use and is voice-activated.
It allows users to search their Twitter accounts or find their favourite Spotify songs, and to message from inside the car.
Taking centre stage, though, is the top-shelf InControl Touch Pro system, available to customers at the end of this year.
This uses a new interface and 10.2-inch touchscreen. It has a quad-core processor and runs on the next-generation Ethernet network technology.
The home screen can be customised, so you can easily add widgets and your favourite contacts, and shortcuts to the features that you like.
It also fully supports gesture control with pinch and zoom, making the process faster and more intuitive.
With InControl Touch Pro, smartphone connectivity is designed to be seamless. You select the route you want on your phone and it automatically synchronises to your vehicle by use of the Touch Pro Route Planner.
The remote engine start capability also adjusts the climate control to pre-set likes.
Once inside the vehicle, and on the move, InControl Touch Pro can advise others if you’re running lateand share your estimated time of arrival.
The system will also advise the driver on their routes, by learning their regular routes and understanding the traffic conditions using cloud connectivity.
Touch Pro will also know exactly where the car is using dead-reckoning technology, perfect for areas where multiple tall buildings block GPS signals.
Finally, when you reach your destination, the Approach mode will build a panoramic street view 200m before arriving at that destination.
The system also has a car parking app to find the nearest parking station, and InControl Touch Pro interacts back to your smartphone with the Companion application, so your route map appears on the smartphone, allowing you to finish your journey to your destination on foot.
-caradvice.com.au