All available and installed apps are listed under “Apps”, providing users with a quick summary of all the applications that can be used in the vehicle via MINI Connected. This includes the third-party apps that are available for their MINI in the App Store or that are already installed on the smartphone and linked to the vehicle.

In addition to this is the “Profile” menu item, where users can enter a name for themselves or their MINI, upload a photo and call up their personal driving statistics, including total distance, total driving time and average consumption.

Finally, users will find all app information and MINI Connected tutorials under “Information”.

For the company car driver in a hurry there’s Sports Instruments and Force Meter apps, which can be called up directly in the display console to show performance data.

The Sports Instruments app shows engine data including rev speed, torque, engine temperature and current engine output.

The Force Meter app, meanwhile, displays all accelerating forces on the screen while on the move, using graphics to indicate the current longitudinal and lateral acceleration in sectors surrounding a virtual MINI in the centre of the display.

With the improved connectivity, it is also now possible to place phone calls directly from the Online Search function and MINI Connected also allows the vehicle to connect to the smartphone’s calendar.

All business appointments and the to-do list are then shown in the vehicle display, together with details such as attendees, phone numbers and addresses, and can be imported into the navigation system as destinations, while calls can be placed directly via the vehicle’s hands-free system.

The new MINI Connected App is available to download from mid-August from Apple iTunes and Google Play on compatible devices.