Lamborghini cosies up to Alexa
Lamborghini is the first car maker to incorporate full in-car control by Amazon Alexa, writes Damien O’Carroll.
Have you ever toyed with the idea of buying a Lamborghini, but always put it off because you wanted more involvement from an invasive online retail giant? Or because you wanted to use it to turn your bathroom lights on and off?
Well, now you are in luck on both counts, because the Italian supercar manufacturer has become the first car maker to fully integrate Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant into its cars.
Automobili Lamborghini has announced that it will incorporate Alexa into its Huracan Evo range this year, allowing drivers to adjust functions such as climate, interior lighting and seat heating with a voice command.
While other manufacturers have also incorporated Amazon’s voice assistant into some models, Lamborghini is the first to completely integrate the system and Alexa will even be integrated into the clunkilynamed Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata dynamic setup – that constantly monitors the vehicle’s all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering, grip and suspension systems – on the fourwheel-drive Evo. Lamborghini says that the Alexa integration also connects its owners to the growing number of connected devices that work with Alexa – everything from entry gates to thermostats and lights – directly from the vehicle.
The first step in a strategic collaboration with Amazon, Lamborghini says the specially enhanced Human Machine Interface system will allow ‘‘continuous updating of Alexa’s functionality within Lamborghini models, and paves the way for future co-operation between the two companies’’.
Both are working to develop further connectivity innovations and integration with Amazon Web Services.
‘‘The Huracan Evo is an outstanding driver’s car, and connectivity enables our customers to focus on the driving, thus enhancing their Lamborghini experience,’’ Automobili Lamborghini chairman and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said.
‘‘Lamborghini is a future shaper, and this is the first time an automaker will deliver in-cabin car control through Amazon Alexa to bring together car controls as well as smart commands and Alexa’s standard capabilities,’’ Domenicali said.
‘‘Our vision is for Alexa to become a natural, intuitive part of the driving experience, and Lamborghini has embraced that by integrating Alexa directly into its onboard infotainment systems,’’ Ned Curic, vice-president of Alexa Auto at Amazon, said.
‘‘The integration will enable Lamborghini owners to enjoy the convenience of an intelligent voice service while focusing on the joy of the Lamborghini driving experience, and we expect it to set a new standard for in-car voice experiences when it ships this year.’’
The Alexa option will be available during the course of this year on the whole Huracan Evo family, including the recently revealed RWD model.