Hyundai used this week’s Consumer Electronics Show to announce the introduction of its own in-car telematics/infotainment system, which it has dubbed “Blue Link.” First set to appear as a standard feature on the new 2011 Hyundai Sonata that will arrive at dealers in the spring, the automaker also plans to fit it to “a new youth-focused model” it plans to introduce before summer (which could be the upcoming Veloster that will debut next week in Detroit) and that Blue Link will be available across most of its North American lineup by the 2013 model year.
According to Hyundai, Blue Link will offer more than 30 different features and services when it does arrive, from traditional things like turn-by-turn directions, points of interest, weather reports and restaurant ratings to scheduled maintenance reminders, an “eco-coach” that improves driving efficiency, remote starting, vehicle locking/unlocking and pre-warming/cooling of the passenger compartment. Blue Link also boasts a unique “geofencing” capability which can send a text message if a driver ventures outside of a prescribed area as well as a vehicle-slowdown feature to help police in recovering the vehicle should it be stolen.
In presenting the automaker’s new telematics package, Barry Ratzlaff, director of customer satisfaction and service business development, Hyundai Motor America noted that: “We’ve studied how drivers rely on smart phones and navigation systems as a link to the outside world. Blue Link brings that connectivity to the car with technology like voice texting and POI download, turn-by-turn navigation, and vehicle health reporting. In typical Hyundai fashion, we’ve developed package options that are both thoughtful and cost-effective.”
