Remotely control vehicle functions? There’s an app for that!

I think someone at OnStar must be a Dr. Horrible fan. (If you don’t know Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long-Blog, it’s an Emmy-winning masterwork of music and snort-laughs created by Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Firefly creator Joss Whedon. It is absolutely genius.)

In the three-part web short, Neil Patrick Harris’ title character controls a van using his iPhone. Now it looks like life is imitating art, since OnStar will be enabling remote features via smartphones like iPhone, BlackBerry and Android handsets.

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Dr. Horrible’s van-controlling iPhone screen (top)

OnStar app working on an HTC Incredible (below)

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The only obvious (and understandable) omission from the OnStar app is a remote steering/driving feature. So what else is there? Plenty. The company, renowned for its vehicular emergency response system, will enable smartphone users to manage several OnStar-equipped automobiles’ key functions — including remote ignition, locking/unlocking doors, triggering the horn and lights, and managing built-in hands-free features.

The application also offers diagnostic data revealing the current health on your vehicle (as of your last engine start) — like gas and oil levels, tire pressure and lifetime average miles-per-gallon — and one-touch communication, in case of emergency.

These features were first demo’ed on a Chevy Volt mobile app at CES (Consumer Electronics Show)earlier this year, but the company is expanding its offerings to include various 2011 models from Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.

For a look at how all this works, check out the vid below. And for an added bonus, here’s part 1 of Dr. Horrible below that. (Yeah, I’ll take any excuse to post about my favorite web video. Enjoy!)