"Apple fans have been eagerly anticipating a wireless Apple CarPlay solution, so we are excited to deliver the iLX-107 as the first aftermarket system with this technology," says Steve Crawford, vice president and general manager, Alpine Electronics of America.
While virtually all car manufacturers are now shipping new models featuring CarPlay, there is a very large potential market for car owners that do not want or cannot buy a new car anytime soon, but still want to have the best iPhone connectivity, hands-free Siri voice control, app support and safety features that works with Apple CarPlay over Wireless. Aftermarket models with CarPlay have been available since 2016 but require a cabled (Lightning) connection between the iPhone or other iOS devices and the receiver. For any longer ride, that's usually the best option anyway, allowing the iPhone or iPad to remain charged and the data connection - e.g. for map navigation - as reliable as possible, since all the apps and communications are actually handled by the iOS device.
Alpine is one of the manufacturers working closer with Apple on CarPlay implementation, but the wireless CarPlay was depending on Apple's own efforts - Apple had to get involved directly in the wireless receiver’s development - and certification, that being the reason why Alpine was forced to delay shipments of its iLX-107 unit from the original scheduled February 2017 release to now.
The iLX-107 is an AM/FM receiver with a 7-inch WVGA capacitive touch screen and LED backlighting. iPhone owners can use CarPlay to make and receive calls, access text messages, play music, and get directions optimized for traffic conditions in a way that allows them to stay focused on the road. The iLX-107 uses the 5 GHz WiFi band to optimize wireless connectivity performance - like direct app mirroring on the dash and to take calls - but it also uses Bluetooth for pairing and control features.
CarPlay is accessed through the iLX-107's touch screen or through Siri voice control, and the resulting music, driving directions, messages, and phone calls are played through the vehicle's speaker system. Once wireless Apple CarPlay has been set up, the iLX-107 will automatically search for and connect to the most frequently paired iPhone for all subsequent uses. Since the Apple CarPlay connection to the iLX-107 is wireless, there is no need to remove the iPhone from a pocket or purse to use it in the vehicle.
The iLX-107 has three (2V) preouts, one aux input, and a rear view camera system input (camera system sold separately). It has a mechless design with a flat, tablet-like faceplate and a 5 7/8-inch mounting depth. When the iLX-107 is used with an iDatalink Maestro module (sold separately), select factory vehicle features can be retained and information like the gauge screen or parking assist screen can be viewed on the 7-inch display (the retained features and vehicle information will vary by vehicle). External vehicle accessories like a light bar or motorized tonneau cover can be controlled from the iLX-107's touch screen with the addition of the optional Alpine KAC-001 External Accessory Controller ($250 SRI, sold separately).
The iLX-107 was recognized at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with a CES Innovations Award for outstanding design and engineering in the In-Vehicle Audio/Video category. The iLX-107 wireless Apple CarPlay system is available now for $900 SRI and is compatible with iPhone 5 and later. In Europe and Australia, Alpine has been selling the iLX-700 aftermarket model with CarPlay for some time, but without the wireless functionalities. No information is available about potential firmware or hardware upgrades that would enable wireless support. CarPlay is available in more than 25 countries, but not all features are available in all countries, however.
www.alpine-usa.com
