iFruit in Your Car

Apple has teamed with car manufacturers to let drivers use their iPhones to make calls, access music, get directions and send and receive messages with a touch or a voice command using the car's display and controls.

Called CarPlay, the technology can be controlled from the car's native interface or via the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate Siri, Apple's voice command tool, the company said Monday.

Drivers can connect their iPhones to the car and access contacts, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails using Siri. Incoming messages can also be read by Siri while drivers can dictate responses, Apple said.

Apple Maps is used for turn-by-turn, voice-based, driving directions. It also can anticipate destinations and will convey driving directions and the approximate time of arrival, Apple said.

Music and podcasts can also be accessed through CarPlay. The service supports third-party audio apps like Spotify and iHeartRadio, Apple said.

CarPlay is meant to make operating an iPhone in a car safer with minimized distraction to let drivers focus on driving, Apple said.