Audi and VW made HD Radio news at the just-concluded CES convention.
Audi will offer HD Radio technology as a standard feature on its 2011 models, including the A6, A8 and Q7. The digital radio technology also will be available on the optional navigation radio in the 2011 A4, A5 and Q5 models. All models will be available at U.S. Audi dealerships by this fall.
Filip Brabec, general manager of product planning at Audi, described the feature as “the best in digital broadcast engineering.”
Separately, in addition to including IBOC on some of its DVD navigation systems in 2010, Beetle-maker Volkswagen is looking at possibly bringing HD Radio to its touch-screen radio system on future models.
“As vehicle infotainment systems become more robust, Volkswagen continues to stay on the cutting edge of the latest technologies,” stated Volkswagen of America VP of Product Marketing Toscan Bennett.
IBiquity Digital said during CES that OEM commitments to HD Radio this calendar year will total 15 automotive brands across more than 80 vehicle types, 36 of which will include HD Radio as standard.
