We think Lexus has struck the right balance with the sweetest in-car entertainment system yet. Called ICE (In Car Entertainment), the pair of eight-inch widescreen WVGA monitors protrude out of the back of the two front seats and feature an integrated slot-loading DVD in each, plus RCA inputs, USB ports and SD card slots. The attractive mounting also provides shock protection so discs don't skip over rough pavement or – perish the thought – off road terrain. A disc loaded into one can even be played on both monitors so both kids rear-seat passengers can watch the same Spongebob disc and listen through the included infrared wireless headphones.
The ICE system replaces the ceiling-mounted drop-down screen on the current RX350 and RX400h crossovers. Unfortunately, the system costs the equivalent of an extra $4,300 on all trim levels, except the top-of-the-line SE-L that has them included. Even worse, the system is only available in the UK... at the moment. But we'd expect that sufficient demand for the pricey accessory would bring it Stateside faster than you can say "luxury crossover-utility vehicle".
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jake @ Feb 28th 2008 7:33PM
Like usual, America must wait for new products to get through the lawyer gauntlet.
ben @ Feb 28th 2008 9:17PM
I'd faceplant it...
Andrew L @ Feb 28th 2008 9:42PM
The Lincoln MKZ already has this as an option
why not the LS2LS7? @ Feb 29th 2008 1:57AM
look like ass to me. They can keep it.
flychinook @ Feb 29th 2008 3:15AM
Looks like an aftermarket part... and not "Sema" aftermarket, so much as "WalMart" aftermarket. All it needs are some velcro straps to hold it to the head rests, and maybe a big Audiovox logo on it. And with the exception of being able to play one DVD on both screens, they do nothing new. Infrared headphones? Seriously? Could they not swing the extra $20 for bluetooth?
spw @ Feb 29th 2008 5:26AM
they are avail. accross europe, accross complete Toyota and Lexus range.
Not that expensive, it is just that USD is so down these days.
It can be removed, and it has been crash tested, so it wont hit your kids when you are in the accident, like those chinese dvd's.
h8rain @ Feb 29th 2008 9:09AM
For $4,300 it should look a hell of a lot better than a $100 portable dvd mounted to the back of seat.
I am thinking mount monitors in the headrest and you load the DVD or hook up the RCA/USB/SD card in the base of the seat. That would look A LOT cleaner, and could justify the cost a bit more.
strangway @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:04PM
For the price, you can buy 8 brand new 32GB iPod Touches.