Volkswagen's second generation "modular infotainment platform" – or MIB II – is on its way to the U.S. and Europe, and with it comes VW's first integration of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the all-but-dead MirrorLink system. Hey, two out of three ain't bad.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are no-brainers, and while MirrorLink has fallen by the wayside, it has considerable support from phone makers like Samsung, HTC, LG, and Sony, providing drivers a way to integrate their phones into the head unit with a car-friendly user interface.
VW showed off the new system at CES in its Connected Golf concept, an electric e-Golf that connects up with smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets to bring more app-like functionality to the car. VW also showed off an inductive charging station and an automated parking system that enters and exits both perpendicular and parallel spaces, and even remembers the parking spaces drivers normally use and "learns" them over time.
All that stuff isn't coming soon, but the smartphone integration is coming later this year, although VW isn't saying exactly when or how much it will cost.