Toyota/Lexus Introduces its own OnStar (Enform) System for 2010
2010 LEXUS RX 350, originally uploaded by Toyota USA.
You knew it was coming! With the popularity of the GM based OnStar and Ford’s voice-activated Sync system, it was only a matter of time before a few other auto manufactures caught on and said, “Hey, they just might have something there. That could be an extra $20 bucks or so a month from a customer, which is looking mighty tempting during these hard economic times.”
The new system which will be deemed “Mini-Star”… no not really, but that would be pretty funny. It will actually be called Enform, and will be featured on the 2010 Lexus RX as far as we have been told.
How Will the new System Work?
How Enform will work, is during emergency situations it will connect the driver and its passengers to a built-in GPS system which will be able to function in a variety of ways. Its functions will include help with automated collision notification, stolen vehicle location, roadside assistance, and for just about any emergency situation you can think of, it will have an “SOS” button located on the dash.
Destination Assist
But probably its most useful feature will be its Destination Assist (including eDestination), which will take out that annoying automated robotic GPS voice we all have dealt with at some point or another, “You have arrived at your destination—you are driving over the posted speed limit—you have taken the wrong exit, you dolt.”, and instead connect you with a real person. As long as we can understand what they are saying, (no offense, but some dialects are more consumer friendly than others), the future Lexus driver should be in heaven when it comes to guided direction.
The system will also allow the operator to help find the nearest movie theater, sushi restaurant, or perhaps on a really slow night, help mediate a spousal argument outside a McDonald’s Drive-thru. Using the new Ford Sync technology, the driver and passengers will also have the convenience of voice recognized mobile audio casts and XM radio (as long as it is still around by then).
Coming to a Summer Near You
We can look forward to seeing the preliminary versions of this system as early as this coming late summer, but don’t expect all the bugs to be worked out until well into next winter!
January 10th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
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