Alpine Planning to Release Aftermarket CarPlay Console This Fall

[subterFUSE]

i would never let best buy touch my car.

+100

 

[Michael Scrip]

It's very easy even today.

Subaru's, Acura, Nissans in the past few years still easy to replace. Some models need a $20 fit kit, and an optional $15 wiring harness. Then it's a 2hr max DIY job in driveway.

New headunits even have inputs for special stuff like factory backup cameras.

But is there enough room for an aftermarket screen?

It's one thing to replace a factory radio with a normal DIN-sized headunit.

But I thought the whole point of CarPlay is putting the Apple interface onto a big screen?

If your car doesn't have a screen... how will you fit one in?

And if your car already has a screen... why wouldn't Subaru, for instance, offer the upgrade for CarPlay? What would be Alpine's involvement in that situation?

 

[jerry7171]

Oh sure at first glance this is welcome news, but personally I might wait a little longer for anyone else to offer this.

My original HU in my 2004 Accord was built by Alpine and it became a notorious embarrassment for Honda as thousands of HUs like mine crapped out from a bad circuit board. Honda tried to get Alpine to cover their poorly made boards but Alpine refused. Honda had to do warranty work out of its own pocket.

The aftermarket HU in my Accord is an Alpine too. It is a choppy performer at times and their technical support is snarky.

Maybe I'm raining on the parade here but after Alpine's craptacular equipment, I'd rather get along with my dash mount and iPhone for a while longer while someone else comes out with an aftermarket product.

 

[truettray]

I haven't paid attention to aftermarket car stereos since I was in high school and college in the 90's.

Is this something that will even be feasible today? Almost all recent cars have elaborate built-in radios and other electronic systems. And it's been like that for quite a few years.

You'll need a car that is capable of accepting an aftermarket car stereo with a large screen... and be willing to part with $1000+

Obviously the folks at Alpine have though of this... I'm just curious how it will work out.

Aftermarket head units are still very much a big deal. I know it looks like one could never breach the smoothed over once piece dashboard of today, but it's actually not much different than it used to be on the inside! I have installed new head units on all of my modern vehicles and some of my friend's rigs too.

 

[JAT]

But is there enough room for an aftermarket screen?

It's one thing to replace a factory radio with a normal DIN-sized headunit.

But I thought the whole point of CarPlay is putting the Apple interface onto a big screen?

If your car doesn't have a screen... how will you fit one in?

And if your car already has a screen... why wouldn't Subaru, for instance, offer the upgrade for CarPlay? What would be Alpine's involvement in that situation?

Many factory units are actually 2-DIN size. Or there is other space that makes aftermarket 2-DIN models feasible. If you are thinking of such a purchase, check out Crutchfield or other places and search on your car model. There is plenty of support and info for car stereo installation.

Subaru and Alpine are 2 completely different companies. They'll both do what they want.

 

[MacLadybug]

Sign me up. I work hard to keep my cars in pristine condition and I drive them until they die... I'd have no problem investing in Carplay. I was born without the "Navigation" gene. I get lost at the mall. I use navigation on my iPhone all the time. It would be so great to have it integrated properly in my car. I can't wait for it.

 

[CFreymarc]

Mainly theft, car stereos were being stolen so much, the manufacturers designed their own. And now hardly any are stolen because they only fit in one make and model of car.
As a by product car systems and coms have come along so much that they are fully integrated with the car stereos. For instance you use some sort of interface device and the stereos screen to change suspension etc.

Sounds like a party line. I keep wondering if these non-standard car stereo interfaces is an anti-competitive practice.