We told you in April that Best Buy partnered with Car Toy of Seattle, WA to test market selling car stereo through car dealerships in a practice known as expediting. The tests were to occur in Boise, ID and Minn.

Five months later, we’ve followed up for you and confirmed that a trial has been running in Boise, ID for several months and that it has been expanded to Minneapolis, MN, and includes a wide range of car electronics products, according to several industry sources.

Three car dealerships in Boise confirmed the Best Buy program and two said the program includes products from Pioneer, Kenwood and Rosen. It includes overhead video monitors and headrest monitors and in-dash navigation/DVD models that range from $1,299 to $2,299. Security systems, remote starters, and Bluetooth kits from Parrot are also available in the Best Buy/Car Toys program. Two dealers said Kenwood CD players are available and one cited a Kenwood CD player/speaker package for $499. Also included is a MoGo GPS vehicle tracking system.

We were told the margins offered dealerships were lower than the margins offered by other local expeditors but two of the dealers told us they were happy with the margins.

A mystery shopper call to the Boise, ID Best Buy also confirmed that the store has been selling car radios through local car dealers.

A local car stereo retailer that performs expeditor work in the area said its business has not been hurt by the program. He noted that local car stereo expeditors offer better service and that Best Buy will not work on certain cars. “They won’t work on overheads [monitors] with a sunroof or remote start with manual transmission. Car dealers sometimes bring you a mess with cut harnesses and they won’t work on that,” said a store employee.

We placed an inquiry with Best Buy which was not immediately returned.

Source: CEoutlook (exclusive)

AudioControl is readying 2 new processors for this summer/fall including a new in-dash model that lets you plug in an iPod/iPhone directly to soup up the sound (the THREE.2) and a simplified OEM processor for around $100.

The THREE.2 is a high-end ½ DIN pre-amp—the first from AudioControl to offer both front and rear aux-in jacks to accommodate and iPod or other portable. The product gives you knobs instead of switches and new selectable red or blue backlighting. It ships in September at $299.

It will be joined by a simplified adapter (line output converter) that lets you add, say, an amp and subwoofer to your factory system. Instead of the higher end 4-channel converters, this one gives you 2-channels. It’s billed as a simple way to add a subwoofer and a speaker amp to your current OEM radio. AudioControl said the product is the result of requests from some of its dealers who wanted a simpler OEM integration device. It should ship in 30 to 45 days. And we’ll give AudioControl a little plug here, like all its products, the new converter is made in the U.S.A.

As for the THREE.2 some additional specs are:
4 stereo eq controls
4-channel, 2-way, 24-dB/octave crossover with fader
Subwoofer level control
Master volume control

Source: AudioControl

More Audiovox news here… The company strongly defended the longevity of its FLO TV product and said it is actively looking at alternative pricing and programming options for its FLO TV (pay TV service) car system.

President of Audiovox Electronics Tom Malone said, “We talk to FLO on a daily basis. We are fully engaged in continuing the sale and development of FLO TV…we feel it’s got a very strong future. And we need to find the proper price point, content packages that make sense and that’s all being looked at, certainly on the price side with both Audiovox and FLO TV to make the offer more compelling. So we’re taking a hard look at that.”

Audiovox’s reaffirmation follows an announcement in July by Qualcomm that it may sell its FLO TV service. Qualcomm said sales of FLO TV’s pay TV service to portable devices had not met sales expectations.

Audiovox, which sells a $399 FLO TV tuner for the car, added, “We feel confident that FLO TV as a service will continue for the long term,” according to Malone.

Audiovox’s FLO TV tuner is expected to be offered through Best Buy this quarter. The system delivers 20 channels of subscription TV. Audiovox also supplies a portable FLO TV-equipped DVD player. FLO TV requires a service charge of $15 per month.

Source: CEoutlook (exclusive)

Boston Acoustics expanded its G2 car subwoofer line with a 15-inch model G215.

The new woofer boasts a rigid cone and 2-inches of peak-to-peak excursion. It has a 2.5 inch voice coil and nickel-plated, spring-loaded binding posts. Also included is Boston Acoustic’s cooling system and protection circuitry.

It is available in single 4-ohm and dual 4-ohm configurations at $300 each.
Source: Boston Acoustics

iSimple (an Aamp of America accessories brand) appointed Scott Rothstein to the post of senior product manager. He is responsible for developing new products, finding new market opportunities and creating brand strategies.

Rothstein has 15 years of experience in product developments, sales and marketing. He was recently national sales manager for telecommunications company Prime Access and was a Recoton product manager prior to that. He was also a senior manager at the Sound Advice retail chain, responsible for car electronics.

Source: iSimple

iSimple (an Aamp of America accessories brand) appointed Scott Rothstein to the post of senior product manager. He is responsible for developing new products, finding new market opportunities and creating brand strategies.

Rothstein has 15 years of experience in product developments, sales and marketing. He was recently national sales manager for telecommunications company Prime Access and was a Recoton product manager prior to that. He was also a senior manager at the Sound Advice retail chain, responsible for car electronics.

Source: iSimple

Some tuner cars are all about power.  Some are all about styling.  Some are all about nimble reflexes.

This one is all about music.  This is not a car with a nice stereo, it’s a world-class stereo system with a car attached in case you need to go somewhere, and don’t want to stop listening.

German tuner shop CFC has done a little mechanical work on its Mark VI VW Golf GTI.  With a new Eisenmann exhaust with stainless steel tips and an ECU flash, they brought power up to 265 horses. Adjustable springs complete the performance package.

They’ve done a little to the styling.  A unique matte metallic paint and 19-inch ASA GT2 wheels tell the rest of the cars in traffic that they’re not sitting next to a stock GTI.

But what you really need to know about this car is this –MK Soundsystem built in a Pioneer 999 with no less than four output stages pumping into a Pioneer subwoofer.  Fully-active Rainbow speakers in the front, plus midrange Speakers (100 Vanadium), and a 165 Vanadium Phase Plug woofer powered by two output stages complete the effect.

Harman announced it signed a multi-year contract with Chrysler and Fiat to supply the auto makers with car electronics systems.

The agreement continues Harman’s long-standing supplier relationship with Chrysler and now extends it Fiat.

Harman will provide the auto makers with a next generation infotainment platform. Harman offers a platform that includes “advanced connectivity,” built-in navigation and audio it said.
Source: Harman

Photo: Fiat 500