You wouldn't buy a convertible unless you liked to show off, and in the case of the 2014 Volkswagen EOS Komfort, there's even an app for that. Volkswagen is rolling out its new Car-Net service on select 2014 models, including the EOS Komfort, with a focus on providing safety, remote access, family tracking, and diagnostics information. This information is nothing different or revolutionary compared to what you'll find on competing vendors' cars. But this is VW's first shot at it, and to the company's credit, the subscription prices (after a six-month free trial) are reasonable.
Volkswagen's new Car-Net app lets you check your car's fuel level from your phone. (click to enlarge)
The iPhone app is already available on iTunes. (An Android app is in the works, per Volkswagen). Your dealer provides a login, and you can instantly check the status of the car: the fuel level, whether the hard-shell top is down or the doors are unlocked, or if you need to call for help by flashing the horns and lights. You'll find similar features in apps like MyLink with the 2014 Chevrolet Impala, and in higher-end Mercedes-Benz vehicles like the E550 using the mbrace app.
Helicopter parents will love the monitoring and geofencing features. The car alerts you when someone drives over the speed limit or leaves a set area of town. These features will sound familiar to those who have used the Ford MyKey feature in vehicles like the 2014 Ford Taurus.
One of the app's best features has to do with navigation: You can search for a destination and then send that navigation route to the car. Once again, it's something BMW and Mercedes-Benz already offer.The Car-Net app makes it easy to set a destination and then send the route to the car. (click to enlarge)
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