Alpine introduced the i109-WRA 9-inch Restyle in-dash system, which incorporates Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Alpine came to CES 2016 to showcase new technology and announce new partnerships.
The company announced that the Apple CarPlay connectivity feature has been expanded into a new model — the Alpine i109-WRA 9-inch Restyle dash system — which is designed for the Chrysler Jeep Wrangler model. This 9-inch model, which is the next iteration of the Alpine 7-inch iLX-007 in-dash receiver, includes a WVGA screen with 800 x 400 display resolution that has both a touchscreen and dedicated hard keys to access to music, phone and maps.
“Consumer response to our iLX-007 receiver with Apple CarPlay has been excellent,” said Steve Crawford, vice president and general manager of the aftermarket business unit for Alpine Electronics of America.
A number of car manufacturers have announced integration with the Apple CarPlay system at this year’s CES. Apple CarPlay enables users to connect an iPhone to a CarPlay-enabled auto to stream music, send messages and make phone calls.
Alpine also announced a partnership with the connected car service Airbiquity, in which the two will launch the Alpine Connect platform on five of Alpine’s Restyle aftermarket dash systems this spring.
The platform will support audio apps including iHeartRadio and Spotify, as well as provide two navigation apps. The platform will be available within select Chevrolet Silverado and Jeep Wrangler models.
“The Airbiquity connected car service powering the Alpine Connect app will be a strategic addition to our top-of-the-line Restyle dash systems,” Crawford said. “Users will get to access the Alpine Connect content through a consistent and familiar Alpine user interface, without having to learn new controls or commands for their dash system.”
