Holden releases its cheap hi-tech car in April

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto entertainment systems will come installed in a sub $15,000 Holden car range next month.

Holden Spark is a cheap high-tech car with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Once the province of up-market cars, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto entertainment systems will come installed in a sub $15,000 Holden car range next month.

Holden says its Spark will also feature an in-built 7-inch colour touchscreen, voice recognition and its MyLink infotainment system. The entry level Spark LS will be priced from $13,990 for manual and $14,990 for an automatic model drive-away, and will be on sale in Australia from April.

An up-market version called Spark LT also will feature keyless entry and push-button start — items usually confined to more luxurious cars costing $50,000 upwards. It will feature cruise control, rear parking assist, and a rear-view camera. The Spark LT will cost $18,990 and will be available only with automatic transmission.

The Spark may not appeal to prestige car customers, but it is likely to resonate with tech-savvy millennials. It doesn’t include some premium features found on high end cars such as assistive cruise control, where the car keeps a set distance or time behind the car in front, lane keeping technology and automated parallel and perpendicular parking.

The Holden Spark dash.

But the infotainment systems do allow drivers to interact with the world while in their car. Using voice commands they can dictate text messages and get Apple Siri and Google Now voice assistants to read incoming messages. That may see less people illegally and dangerously trying to text while they drive.

Holden yesterday said those who purchased the cheaper LS model can buy a driver assistance package which will add the cruise control, rear park assist and a rear view camera features of the LT to the LS. The package will be available from June.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is compatible with iPhone 5 and Android 5.0 (Lollipop or higher).

Holden is not the only car maker planning to offer new-age tech features in cheaper cars.

Next year Tesla is expected to release a cheaper car for about $US35,000, but the poorly valued Australian dollar and local tax will still see it cost Australians at least $50,000 here.

Holden itself has a smarter mid-range priced car, Holden Insignia VXR which costs about $50,000.

Tesla’s entry level car called the Model 3 won’t have all the hi-tech gadgetry of premium Teslas but it will have Tesla’s signature feature of being an entirely electric vehicle. Founder Elon Musk says it will have a minimum 320 kilometre range.