kenbefound ... your assumption is correct regarding the cost of the software for the car, not the app. My understanding is the following. You buy the Drive Kit Plus from your dealer for $599 and they install the software and provide connectivity cable. This "integrates" the iPhone (4/4S) into the car's entertainment system, which means you can access some of the applications you have on the phone via the car's screen and use the car's controller to do so. You can enhance the interface experience with the free Mercedes-Benz Digital DriveStyle App available at the Apple App Store. This particular app has many useful features, bells, and whistles that you can access via the phone and display on the car's navi screen. At present, there were no reviews listed for the app in the store. Remember, the Kit only works for iPhone 4/4S; a software update for the iPhone 5 is forthcoming by end of 2013.
Very close, mrjad20. From everything I've seen however you cannot access any apps on your iphone using the dealer-installed kit. The kit instead interfaces directly with the drivestyle app on your phone. The app lets you access internet radio, navigation, your mp3s, and has limited access to facebook and twitter. Does not look like you can access other apps using this kit, just those that the drivestyle app interfaces with.
From the A class brochure:
"With the "Drive Kit Plus for the iPhone®", your iPhone® 4/4S is comprehensively integrated
in the A-Class. It is integrated through the interaction of the
Mercedes-Benz app called "Digital DriveStyle" with the "Drive Kit Plus for the iPhone®" interface in the vehicle, where the iPhone® is connected and charged.
The "Digital DriveStyle" app is available free of charge at the iTunes® App Store [2]. In the app, extensive functions are seamlessly integrated in the new revolutionary user interface and shown on the vehicle display [3] . With the iPhone® connected, the "Digital DriveStyle" app is reliably and conveniently controlled via the ergonomically designed Controller.
Some of the functions of the "Digital DriveStyle" app:
Advanced navigation solution from Garmin® with web-based real-time traffic information, Points of Interest search and 3D map presentation.
Local search function powered by Google™ of Points of Interest with StreetView™ and destination transfer to Navigation.
AUPEO!™ Personal Radio with individual music programming.
Internet radio with national and international stations.
Access to the track titles stored in your iPhone®.
Facebook® Feeds and Twitter® Tweets from friends are read out aloud[4].
Socially interactive experience through sharing and posting, e.g. the title of the song currently playing or of the navigation destination on Facebook® and Twitter®.
Glympse™: Communicate to your friends - in real-time - your current location, your vehicle speed and estimated time of arrival.
Intuitive CarFinder with automatic storing of vehicle location on iPhone®. By means of the integrated pedestrian navigation function in the iPhone® it is possible to find one's vehicle conveniently."