Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system been treated to a major overhaul for 2013. When the next-generation version appears this spring in the 2014 Impala, it will have a number of new features that let users customize it to their personal preferences.
Similar to having pre-set buttons for radio stations, for example, the new system will let drivers store up to 60 onscreen favorites for instant retrieval. They can be radio stations, phone numbers, nav destinations, songs, albums, artists, genres, and so on. Drivers can also customize the appearance of the screen and its buttons, based on four themes: Contemporary, Edge, Velocity and Main Street.
The updated MyLink system also integrates a new voice-recognition system that lets drivers place calls, play music, enter destinations in the navigation system, and perform other functions by speaking in a natural way instead of having to remember specific commands. Functions can also be controlled through large onscreen buttons, conventional knobs and buttons, or steering-wheel controls.
Compatible smart phones can connect with the system either through Bluetooth or a USB for streaming music and other content.
The Impala's standard in-dash screen will be a 4.2-inch display; an 8-inch display is optional. And while the on-screen layout looks promising, some functions are performed by swiping your finger across the screen, an action with which we've had inconsistent results in other infotainment systems we've used.
Following its debut in the Impala, the next-gen system will begin appearing in other 2014 Chevrolet models as well. We'll give you a full report on the new MyLink system when we buy our Impala.
—Rik Paul
