Honda And Acura To Take Advantage Of Apple Siri Eyes Free Tech

The push is on for many automakers to add new hands-free technology to their vehicles to help drivers keep their eyes on the road. Some automakers, such as Ford, have had hands-free communication systems and their vehicles allowing drivers to control certain functions using the voice for a long time. Other automakers have been slower to adopt such technology.

With the federal government now pushing to reduce distracted driving, automakers are rushing to add new technology to their vehicles. One of these new technologies is Apple's Siri Eyes Free technology. We looked at the Siri Eyes Free system in the past in the Chevrolet Sonic. Automaker Honda has now announced that some its Honda branded vehicles and Acura vehicles will get Siri Eyes Free technology in 2013 models.

It appears that Honda's adoption of this technology was last minute; support isn't baked in as a factory installed option. Honda is offering Siri Eyes Free support as a dealer installed option on the 2013 Accord and on the Acura RDX and ILX models. Honda also says that later this year iPhone owners using iOS 6 or higher will be able to use Siri to perform a number of tasks in the vehicle.

Honda isn't clear if these tasks are something special that it has cooked up or if these features are basic Eyes Free capabilities such as sending text messages, making phone calls, and playing music. Honda says that it has reengineered software and its vehicle infotainment systems to integrate Siri Eyes Free using its Bluetooth HandsFreeLink onboard microphone and speakers.

[via Honda]