Dacia has released details of its latest connectivity offering, which allows occupants’ smart devices to connect to Dacia vehicles via an in-house-designed app.
“Our mission at Dacia is to redefine the essential car. So, we had to find a solution that was clever, simple and attractive for multimedia,” explained Nicolas Legros, Dacia operational cross-car line director. “Customer surveys show that Dacia buyers prefer simplicity in this area. This is an important point that is also echoed by members of the Dacia community. Our engineers and designers have therefore worked together to create Media Control, a system that places our customers’ favorite screen – their phone – at the center of the in-car multimedia experience.”
The Media Control system provides connectivity between the driver’s smartphone and various control functions within the latest Sandero and Sandero Stepway models. Alongside the vehicle radio, the interior features a purpose-built housing that sits atop the Sandero’s dashboard and holds the driver’s smartphone in a robust mount. A free, customizable smartphone app then enables users to operate the system.
With the app downloaded, essential functions such as navigation, music, telephone contacts and even vehicle information become available through the smartphone. The system can also be accessed via voice recognition software or operated via buttons on the steering wheel.
“Media Control is a complete multimedia system. It includes a radio, two speakers, a USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, steering-wheel controls and, above all, a smartphone docking station integrated into the dashboard,” commented Legros. “From the very beginning of the project, this docking station was truly integrated into the design of the dashboard – a guarantee of comfort and ergonomics for our customers.”
Multimedia options include playlists from the user’s phone, subscriptions to music platforms, USB sticks or MP3 players. In addition, calls and all other essential functions are available.
Currently available on Android, and on iPhone soon, an SMS function will be able to read incoming messages out loud. A vehicle menu, known as the Driving ECO function, gives users access to fuel consumption and personalized driving tips.
