Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
There are two schools of thought when designing a custom car audio installation: The solutions can be designed to stand out and highlight the upgrades, or they can be designed to blend with the rest of the vehicle. While I appreciate both styles, installations that blend with the cosmetic cues already in the vehicle are my preference. It’s challenging to make something Read more
No technologies have made a more significant impact on drivers’ productivity and safety while behind the wheel than Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unfortunately, not all cars, trucks or SUVs come with these smartphone integration solutions. RDV Automotive Technology offers solutions to add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to many Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Read more
As we’ve said before, car shopping today is a challenge because of the lack of inventory. The local Volvo dealership I pass daily has more used vehicles of makes other than Volvo out front. Although large luxury vehicles aren’t as popular as they once were because of the proliferation of SUVs, there will always be customers who yearn for a large, comfortable car. Audi, BMW, Read more
Not too long ago, we took a look at how speaker-level line output converters worked. We discussed the difference between passive and active devices and explained what features to look for. If you have a vehicle with a premium factory-installed sound system, those interfaces might not be adequate to provide your amplifier with a signal that will sound good with new speakers. So Read more
No doubt about it, the SUV craze is here to stay. When you have companies like Ford ditching all car-based vehicles except the Mustang, you know Americans like sitting up higher compared to a car. The Toyota Camry is still the best-selling car-based vehicle in the United States. But Toyota’s wildly popular RAV4 now even eclipses the sale of the Camry. So, Toyota wanted to Read more
The 2021 Lexus IS 350 F Sport is the tight little Lexus sedan. It might not have the cache of the 3-Series BMW, but when you consider what you get for the money, the Lexus should get a look, especially if you’re looking to own and not lease. The proven reliability of the brand, coupled with a Toyota V-6 engine, typically leads to vehicles that can go for over 300,000 miles. IS Read more
Looking at the specifications and features of an amplifier rarely tells the entire story. ARC Audio sent me one of their ARC 1000.4 amplifiers that’s equipped with an IPS8.8 Pro-Series eight-channel digital signal processor. Based on a 1,000-watt platform, this four-channel amp is rated to produce 250 watts per channel into 2- and 4-ohm loads. There’s a lot of ground to cover Read more
The 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible is the flagship of the Lexus lineup. Because it is rare, I was constantly stopped by neighbors admiring the beautiful car. No denying it is beautiful. Even though it is not a folding hardtop (and Lexus engineers have the capability to make that happen), the LC 500 Convertible’s soft-top design allowed engineers to focus on accentuating the Read more
Lexus makes a great, well-engineered vehicle. But through an enthusiast’s eyes, Lexus coupes usually can’t compete with the hard-edged German sports coupes from BMW and Audi. However, the RC 350 F Sport AWD delivers a lot of vehicle at a reasonable price point. Couple that with Lexus’ world-class reliability and service, and you’re destined for a great ownership Read more
If you visit a new car dealership these days, you’ll notice more and more cars, trucks and SUVs with small touchscreen displays that are mounted in front of or above the dash. While these infotainment systems provide you with AM/FM terrestrial radio, SiriusXM Satellite radio and playback of all your favorite digital media files, these systems aren’t traditional car radios in Read more
The Lexus NX 300 is a proven reliable Lexus SUV. As the price has swelled for the wildly popular RX series (which now offers three rows of seating), the NX is about the size of the original RX, which could easily swallow a family of four and all their belongings. If you don’t need the room, the NX could be just the ticket and keep the bill under $40K with all of the prestige Read more
The Lexus RX series made its way to the United States 20 years ago. In that time, it has become Lexus’ venerable workhorse and sales icon. Most people would agree that it created the luxury SUV category known in the industry as the soft-roader. Instead of a rough-and-tumble, body-on-frame chassis, the Lexus SUV sits on a unibody chassis. This makes a lot of sense for the way we Read more
