► Vauxhall OnStar wins tech award
► Parkers New Car Awards 2018
► Connectivity for all impresses judges
Vauxhall’s latest connectivity feature – OnStar, available across the range – has won a top tech award.
Our sister website Parkers.co.uk named it the best tech feature in the Parkers New Car Awards 2018 with judges praising the democratisation of technology for a mass-market audience.
What is OnStar?
Vauxhall calls it a ‘personal connectivity and service assistant.’ By adding a SIM card, it brings interactive services to drivers and passengers. Highlights include:
- Personalised navigation
- Concierge service, letting you ask for directions
- Stolen vehicle assistance
- Automatic crash response
- 4G wi-fi hotspot
- Vehicle over-the-air diagnostics
Rather than relying on tapping on a touchscreen or using buttons, drivers simply talk to a real human being in a call centre (above); they can answer questions and send answers – or directions – straight to your car’s sat-nav in an integrated fasion.
Why did it win the Parkers best car tech innovation?
Over to Parkers editor, and contributor to CAR magazine, Keith Adams. ‘With technology advancing at a rate of knots, our winner Vauxhall OnStar and the two commended innovations really impressed us with by how they are taking the world of cars into the future, but in a way that makes them supremely easy to live with today.’
While not yet standard on every model, it is available across the range. It is gradually becoming a common sight on all Griffin-badged products.
‘We’re thrilled that Vauxhall OnStar has been recognised by Parkers,’ said Mike Lee, Vauxhall’s UK Head for OnStar strategy and planning. ‘This award shows Vauxhall is at the forefront of vehicle technology and connectivity.’
What other tech innovations were singled out by Parkers?
Other technologies singled out for commendations by the judges included the Citroen C3’s new Connected-CAM dashcam, the first OEM-fit onboard recording facility launched in Europe. CAR’s long-termer has the tech onboard.
And Parkers also highlighted the Jaguar Activity Key – the wristband that doubles as a key for your F-Pace crossover, letting drivers drive to the beach, leave the key in the car and lock it using the bracelet.
Our verdict? It’s great to see tech making a difference to everyday drivers’ lives. For a full list of the Parkers New Car Awards 2018 check out the microsite here.
And search for the #ParkersNewCarAwards hashtag online to see more chatter about the gongs on social media.
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