Siri 'Eyes Free' Coming to 2013 Honda Accord, Acura RDX and ILX

When iOS 6 was announced last June, Apple said it was working with car manufacturers on a new "Eyes Free" mode for Siri that would integrate with voice command buttons found in an increasing number of car models to allow users to interact with Siri without needing to look at their devices' screens. At the time, Scott Forstall displayed a slide showing that Apple was working with BMW, GM, Mercedes, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, Chrysler, and Honda on the initiative.

Today, Honda announced that Eyes Free will be coming to the 2013 Accord, as well as the Acura RDX and ILX.

Honda

From Honda's press release:

American Honda today announced it will integrate support for Siri, the intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking, into its 2013 Honda Accord and Acura RDX and ILX models as a dealer installed option. Later this year, owners with a compatible iPhone running iOS 6 can direct Siri to perform a number of specific tasks while they safely keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Using Eyes Free mode, Siri takes hands-free functionality even further and minimizes distractions even more by keeping your iOS device's screen from lighting up.

In November, Chevrolet announced that Eyes Free would be coming to the Chevrolet Spark and Sonic in 2013, and Hyundai did the same earlier this month.

Update: Honda is currently contacting some existing 2013 Accord owners and offering to install the Siri Eyes Free software in their vehicles free of charge as part of a trial of the feature.

Honda is conducting a limited market trial with current 2013 model owners who own an Apple iPhone.

As a part of this trial, Honda will update your Accord with software that will allow the new Siri Eyes Free feature to work in your vehicle.

The update will be installed by your dealer at no cost to you and you are welcome to keep and use the Siri Eyes Free feature after the trial is complete. All we ask from you is participation in an online survey after Siri Eyes Free is installed and you have had a chance to experience the feature.

Top Rated Comments

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troop231

79 months ago

Wow that dash looks terrible lol

Rating: 10 Votes

abhishake

79 months ago

What I notice about every thread is that people are Haters and mad angry about virtually everything.

Where's the love?

Rating: 8 Votes

ivladster

79 months ago

God, car insides are getting uglier and uglier, more and more buttons. Wish Steve Jobs' plans for car re-invention are still somewhere at Apple.

Rating: 5 Votes

JaySoul

79 months ago

Why can't Siri just drive you to destinations yet? APPLE FAIL.

Edit: Actually with Apple Maps you'd probably end up in the sea anyway.

Rating: 4 Votes

PracticalMac

79 months ago

Wow that dash looks terrible lol

Yes.
Needs to replace all those buttons with iPad mini!

+1 for Siri in cars!

Rating: 4 Votes

Mxbzz

79 months ago

Who cares? Acura makes terrible cars.

I'm just waiting for BMW, VW, Mercedes, and Audi to bring out their integration. The iOS/Android integration on my BMW X5 and Audi S7 are already top notch.

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They already do this. The S7's MMI uses a 3G connection for its GPS to overlay Google Maps. It works really well with Street View and such, but it's also a pain in the ass because Audi uses T-Mobile for their provider and they have basically no 3G coverage.

Shame they don't use AT&T or VZW's superior 3G/LTE coverage. I put in my AT&T SIM and it only gets EDGE because Audi's hardware only supports the AWS HSPA band that TMo uses :(

While I am not particularly fond of the new styling, Acuras are extremely reliable and great cars. What is your basis on calling them terrible?

Rating: 4 Votes

nutmac

79 months ago

While I applaud the option, it sucks that the feature will be a dealer installed option for what probably will be a ripoff. It should be a standard feature (free upgrade to existing users via firmware update).

Oh well, it probably will be a standard feature on at least higher trimmed models next year.

God, car insides are getting uglier and uglier, more and more buttons. Wish Steve Jobs' plans for car re-invention are still somewhere at Apple.

Having driven Tesla Model S, whose dashboard is a gigantic LCD touchscreen, I am not sure if that's the right approach. When I am driving, I like to be able to feel the UI without looking at it (at least no more than a quick glance). And not to mention all the fingerprint smudges.

Rating: 3 Votes

yg17

79 months ago

Yeah, tell me about it! I got a Volvo S80 as a rental car a while ago. Nice car, loaded with safety features including one that warns you if you start wandering out of your lane. Sure enough, I got reprimanded by the car for being distracted. Why? Because I was staring at the center stack trying to figure out which button to press to tune the radio!

I have an Acura TSX with tech/nav package with a center stack that's not too unlike the Accord photo in the article. Takes some getting used to at first but soon you memorize the location of the buttons and aren't taking your eyes off the wheel to change stations.

Plus, with steering wheel controls and voice commands, you don't even have to take your hands off the wheel to change stations.

Rating: 1 Votes

derondantzler

79 months ago

I've owned 2 BMWs and purchased an Acura in 2012. I won't be buying another BMW. The interior has remained basically the same for the last 8 years with no innovation, and it's missing a lot of the technology that's found in the Acura or Lexus. Also, it's nice to not be in the shop every other month with another ridiculous money sucking issue. Just one example: I replaced window regulators 5x in my BMWs collectively. You feel nice owning a fancy BMW with a garbage bag duct taped to the window while you wait on the dealer to get your part in. Believe me.

Rating: 1 Votes

RenoG

79 months ago

Funny you say Acura are terrible cars and then go on to list the most high maintenance, unreliable cars on market...

Rating: 1 Votes

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