THESE DAYS, your car is more than just a machine that takes you from home
to work to school and everywhere in between. Today’s vehicles also are mobile
communication stations, information hubs, and entertainment centers, making your
time on the road more informative and enjoyable. Here’s everything you need to
know about the latest and best in-car technology, whether you’re shopping for a
new car or upgrading your current vehicle by visiting an aftermarket retailer.
Selecting factory-installed audio and
visual components for your new car
has its advantages, as does choosing
aftermarket systems. Automaker-installed
stereo systems are likely to be under
warranty, and many automakers have
incorporated audio controls into the
steering wheels, making them easier
and safer to operate while you’re driving.
If you’re not an audiophile, choosing
a factory-installed system takes the
guesswork out of the equation, and
high-end brand-name audio receivers
and speakers have been expertly
designed to deliver the best sound
possible for your specific car.
Choosing an aftermarket audio system
allows you to tailor your receiver and
speakers to your exact audio needs. You
have more options at more price points,
and an audio specialist can give you
personalized recommendations on how
best to configure your system for the best
possible sound.
Music and driving go together like
sunshine and sand. Nearly all new cars
have standard CD receivers with AM/FM
radio pre-installed, with premium systems
made by well-known brands such as
Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Bose, Rockford Fosgate,
Bang & Olufsen, or harman/kardon. If you
want to upgrade your factory setup, pay
a visit to a bricks-and-mortar retailer like
Best Buy, or go online at Crutchfield.com to
choose a new receiver, speakers, or sound
enhancers such as tweeters, equalizers,
and subwoofers.
To bring your favorite music with
you on the road, select a factoryinstalled
or aftermarket stereo system
with a USB port, an MP3 plug-in, or a
built-in hard drive. Then all you have to
do is plug in your iPhone, iPod, or MP3
player, or download your own music, and
you’ve got a personal jukebox at your
fingertips. Pyle, Scosche, iSimple, and
PAC make aftermarket iPod adapters for
factory stereos, with Kenwood, Pioneer,
and Rockford Fosgate offering cable
connectors for their stereos.
For those who like a huge variety of
entertainment, satellite radio is a great
option. SiriusXM, the biggest name in
satellite radio, gives you immediate access
to about 100 channels of music, talk,
sports, and entertainment, many of them
commercial-free, via monthly subscription.
SiriusXM also offers real-time instant
traffic and weather for
major metropolitan areas.
Another in-car radio
option is HD radio, which
gives you access to free
digital FM stations if you
have an HD receiver.
Many car stereos come
with built-in HD radio
tuners, or you can add a
receiver to your existing
system.
Once you’ve picked the
perfect receiver, you’ll
want the best sound
quality possible, and that
means high-quality speakers. The audio
systems that come standard in your car
might have a setup of as few as two or
four basic speakers, while luxury car
factory systems from Bose, Mark Levinson,
or harman/kardon offering upwards of
18 expertly engineered speakers and
optimal surround sound power precisely
tuned through subwoofers, amplifiers,
and equalizers. You’ll swear you’re in a
concert hall instead of stuck in traffic.
There are ear-pleasing aftermarket
systems aplenty, such as Sony’s latest
Digital Link Sound System, a component
system that works with your preinstalled
audio system to deliver remarkably
clear sound via a 12-inch subwoofer,
an amplifier, and a remote commander.
Pioneer’s TS-A and premier TS-W
speakers and components hone in on
the subtleties of treble and bass for a full,
dimensional sound.
In-car video systems are especially
popular in minivans and SUVs—instead
of asking “Are we there yet?” every five
minutes, kids can enjoy a movie, watch
satellite TV, or play video games on long
road trips.
There are several DVD options.
All-in-one DVD players with video screens
can be mounted in the rear of each of the
front-seat headrests, or a screen can be
mounted to the headrest with the DVD
player hidden beneath the front seat or
in the center console. Another way to go
is a roof-mounted, fold-down overhead
monitor, making it easy for everyone in the
backseat to see the screen. Screen sizes
range from around 7 inches for headrest
screens as big as 20 inches for roofmounted
screens, and wired or wirelessheadphones are available for
most systems. Many systems are dualzone,
so front-seat passengers can listen
to a CD or the radio while rear-seaters
enjoy a movie. Some in-dash monitors do
play DVDs, but only when the vehicle is
parked with the emergency brake on, so
as not to distract the driver. Aftermarket
brands to consider include Alpine,
Audiovox, Clarion, and Power Acoustik.
If you have game-crazy kids, be sure
to choose a DVD system with a dedicated
game console input so they can plug in
their Xboxes or PlayStations for hours of
on-road fun—and peace and quiet for you.
In-car connectivity has made huge
strides in the past few years. The
capability of each automakersourced
or aftermarket system is
different, but features run the gamut
from Internet access to hands-free
communication, turn-by turn navigation
and real-time traffic info, entertainment
recommendations, up-to-the-minute
sports scores, and more, accessible via
touch screen or by voice command.
One popular feature is the ability
to make hands-free cellphone calls on
Bluetooth-enabled phones, using simple
voice commands, conforming to many
states’ hands-free mobile phone usage
laws. Some systems, such as Ford’s Sync,
also let you choose an album or song
from your playlist, or will read your text
messages or e-mails aloud. Restaurant
ratings, Internet radio streaming,
movie times, and nearby gas stations
and shopping are just some of the
information available.
Aftermarket stereo systems from
Parrot and Monster also work with your
Bluetooth-enabled phone and let you
play MP3s. Pioneer’s new App Radio
is the first aftermarket system made
specifically for the iPhone4, and
lets you access all the data and apps
on your iPhone 4, via a 6.1-inch touch
screen, for easily accessible information,
entertainment, and navigation.
Speaking of navigation, today’s
systems are getting more and more
helpful and user-friendly, thanks to
faster real-time traffic information,
comprehensive, easy-to-read maps
and touch-screen programming. They
can either be factory-installed, or you
can get a portable unit. Well-known
aftermarket brands include Garmin,
TomTom, and Magellan.
No matter how careful you are, accidents
do happen. In-vehicle safety systems
such as OnStar can instantly tell if your
automobile has been in a crash, and will
immediately connect you to an operator
who will call 911 for you if needed. You
also can press an SOS button to have
emergency help sent to an accident
you’ve passed on the road, or to have an
operator alert the authorities if you’ve
seen a vehicle flagged in an Amber Alert.
Locked yourself out? An operator can
remotely unlock your car. Wondering if
your car needs an oil change? Automatic
vehicle diagnostic systems will keep track,
letting you know via e-mail when it’s time
for routine maintenance. Formerly only
found in GM vehicles, OnStar can now be
purchased as an aftermarket addition for
virtually any new or used vehicle.
Another useful feature is a rearview
camera or set of cameras showing the car
from different angles, which can simplify
parking in tight spaces or help you avoid
colliding with an object or person behind
you as you’re backing up. Depending on
the setup, the image from the camera or
cameras can be seen on your in-dash
monitor screen, or in your rearview mirror.