Feb 22
Hey, if you mount an iPhone on the dashboard of your Smart car, does that mean you’ve doubled the size of your dashboard? We’re about to find out, because Daimler just unveiled the Smart Drive Kit, a combination iPhone cradle and Smart Drive app that offers Smart ForTwo owners hands-free calling, music listening, Internet radio, and GPS navigation.
The cradle comes with a control unit and a built-in microphone. It charges the iPhone and pumps music and calls through the car’s stereo system. Meanwhile, the Smart Drive app hooks into the iPhone’s music collection, phone, and maps, including Microsoft Bing-enabled search. The app also offers Assist, which helps drivers find their parked cars and offers roadside assistance if it’s ever needed.
The Smart Drive Kit will hit dealerships in Q2 2010. Daimler hasn’t unveiled U.S. pricing, but a quick conversion shows we can expect the cradle to cost a whopping $326, plus $13 for the app and $68 per year for the maps. I guess that’s still cheaper than the $1,200 or $1,500 you’d pay for most in-dash navigation options, or $800 for Smart’s own portable navigation system, but it feels expensive nonetheless.
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