Autoblog

Scion has selected iBiquity Digital to provide HD Radio technology in some of its audio systems. Scion hasn't said how it plans to integrate iBiquity into Scions, or which cars will get the systems first, but the partnership marks another incursion of HD Radio into the mass market -- BMW, Ford and Jaguar already offer it, with Volvo opening the HD spigot next year. HD Radio offers stations the ability to transmit multiple programs over a single FM frequency with crystal clear reception -- and there are more than 1,600 stations across the nation, available to 83-percent of the country. In the future, HD plans to introduce features that will match or better those offered by satellite radio. But unlike satellite radio, HD is free.

[Source: Toyota]

The great thing about vintage cars is, well, they're vintage cars. One of their drawbacks is vintage sound from vintage speakers and vintage playback capabilities. For those times when neither 8-tracks nor some gaudy modern stereo system will do, the Retro Sound Model One keeps things looking smartly classic.

The Model One is essentially modern mechanicals in a classic face -- it's even got chromed knobs, and the mounting system is so flexible that it works with stereos that only use one knob. In addition to 24 presets and a host of outputs, it's also got a USB connection and an auxiliary port, so you can play from just about anything, and the display shows the track names. And if the Retro Sound is still too modern for you, you can get the remote and hide the radio entirely in the glovebox.

[Source: Retro Sound]

Ford developed its SYNC system with Microsoft and has an 18-month exclusive license to sell the system, which is something we weren't aware of until recently. It turns out, however, that the exclusive rights aren't being wasted: Ford reports that SYNC-equipped cars are finding twice as many buyers as cars without SYNC. One dealer said "People who won't spend a dollar more for power door locks have to have SYNC." Keep in mind this news is coming from Ford, but clearly SYNC is appealing to the common customer.

The multi-media controlling option appears to have won so many over by being easy to learn, genuinely useful for different age groups, and cheap at only $395. Scott Burgess of The Detroit News, when building his dream car, called it "the best $395 option of 2007." It also appears to be inverting the car buying decision for some, with people knowing that they want a car with SYNC then choosing among the available models.

SYNC is still young, though. If the kinds of things that PC owners and Microsoft critics have bemoaned for ages begin to creep in, then the fortunes of SYNC could sink just as quickly. But for now it's good times, and if you've been checking out SYNC from the sidelines, you might be interested to know that v2.0 will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in a couple weeks.

[Source: Ford]

In Part IV, the final installment in our CES Car Show, you get VW Beetles and a four-door GTI used as a guitar amp, a Roush Mustang, a mostly untouched (thank god!), bright red Lotus Exige and various other autos we saw around the show.

While we didn't get to hear the GTI in play, but the Beetles actually sounded quite good. We know some amateur bands that have amps that sound much worse than the car's speakers. Then again, it could be their guitar-playing abilities. We can't wait until someone puts together a concert with about 20 Beetles on stage as amplifiers. Could you bill it as The Beetles United?

Enjoy all 22 high-res 1280x photos in our gallery.

Mitsubishi Motors North America announced Monday that it will offer SIRIUS radio as a standard feature or factory option, starting with four models this fall, and expanding to the full Mitsubishi product line next year. All SIRIUS-equipped vehicles will include a pre-paid six month subscription.

The first models to come standard with SIRIUS will be the 2007 Galant RALLIART, and the Endeavor SE, as well as the Raider LS and DuroCross double-cab pickups.

Other automakers exclusively partnered with SIRIUS include Aston Martin, Audi, BMW and Chrysler, among others.

[Source: Mitsubishi]