Acura has been in the Open Automotive Alliance since the beginning, however they waited until now to actually announce a vehicle with Android Auto. Google updated the Android Auto website to show that the 2017 Acura NSX is getting Android Auto support. Acura is Honda’s luxury brand, and their Android Auto experience should be pretty similar to the Honda Accord, which we took a look at not too long ago. The 2017 Acura NSX is definitely not your typical Android Auto vehicle, seeing as the majority of them are sedans or SUV’s. The 2017 NSX is a sports car which starts at about $156,000. The 2017 Acura NSX should be hitting the market later this year. Although exact timing has not been announced just yet.
According to a reddit post from about two months ago, the NSX is supposedly running Android as its base – which means the entire car is running Android Auto, and not just the infotainment system. Similar to the concept that Google showed off at Google I/O last week. Although it’s not confirmed whether the car will actually be running Android completely. We’ll have to wait until it’s actually made available to see for sure.
Android Auto is Google’s own way of getting into the car. To put it in its simplest terms, Android Auto takes the apps from your smartphone – which is plugged in via USB – and displays it on the display in the car. Android Auto puts apps into a new container, so that you are getting the same experience on any phone and in any car. By default, Android Auto has Google Maps for mapping and navigation, as well as a dialer which will allow you to make calls using Android Auto. Not to mention a slew of media apps that allow you to stream over Bluetooth. Apps like Spotify, Pandora, Google Play Music and many others are compatible. Google is also bringing Android Auto in app form to Android. So you’ll be able to use Android Auto without needing to buy a new car or get a new head unit in your car.
The 2017 Acura NSX is the first one from Acura and third car from Honda (Accord and Civic have Android Auto). We should see plenty others coming too.