Honda’s 2018 Gold Wing Is the First Motorcycle with Apple CarPlay

Honda's 2018 Gold Wing Is the First Motorcycle with Apple's CarPlay Credit: Honda
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Honda Motorsports is readying for release the world’s first motorcycle with Apple’s proprietary CarPlay functionality onboard.

As per its official product landing page, the Japanese auto-maker’s upcoming 2018 Gold Wing motorcycle will boast, among other incredible features, a large, 7-inch LCD display embedded in its dashboard to facilitate complete CarPlay functionality “just like you’d use it in a standard car” — however you’ll need a Bluetooth headset in order to actually use the feature on your 2018 Gold Wing, CNET reports.

“You do have to connect a Bluetooth headset, a requirement mandated by Apple, one that is a bit frustrating since most CarPlay interactions don’t require voice,” CNET’s Road Show contributor Tim Stevens noted in his October 24 Gold Wing review, adding in summation that the feature “Works well.”

As for the controls, Stevens noted that CarPlay on the 2018 Gold Wing is controllable via one of two mechanisms: by rotating the bike’s left hand-grip, or by fiddling with a rotary controller that’s much less conveniently embedded into the bike’s rear tank, oddly enough.

Above and beyond CarPlay functionality, which is certainly one of the 2018 Gold Wing’s more interesting technological advancements, the motorcycle features a much lighter, narrower, and more aesthetically pleasing look and feel in relation to previous Gold Wing models — however these aesthetic pleasures evidently come at the cost of cargo space, Stevens notes. It’s also 90 pounds lighter than previous Gold Wing models, while its 1,800 cc engine with ‘double-wishbone’ front suspension ensures ample power, run-time, and a smooth ride.

So how much will all of this goodness cost? Honda says that a base-model 2018 Gold Wing will start out at $23,500 MSRP, while a fully decked-out Touring trim with Automatic (ACT) Transmission could run in excess of  $31,000.

Of course, if motorcycles aren’t really ‘your thing’, then you’ll be happy to know that Honda offers a wide-range of vehicles featuring CarPlay functionality — including its gorgeous, powerful and ultra high-performance Civic Type-R for the U.S. market, which was released back in June of this year. And, suppose on the off chance that Honda, itself, is also not your thing, then there’s always the more luxurious automotive offerings from car-makers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even Porsche whose CarPlay configurations may gauge your interest.

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