CES 2013: Top 10 in car tech

Porsche delivers a pure driving experience through advanced engine technology and performance. The automaker will soon integrate Aha's smartphone-based online infotainment service into its cars, extending that pure experience to the cockpit as well. After loading the companion application on their smartphone, drivers will have a choice of 30,000 "channels," including Internet radio, social media, audio books and other streaming content, as well as a new Aha feature: integrated Google search. All the features will be accessible from the vehicle's touch screen as part of the Porsche Communication Management system.

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Ford's AppLink platform allows users of the company's Sync infotainment system to access a wider variety of mobile apps to enhance their driving experience. New apps include The Wall Street Journal and USA Today for live and on-demand radio programming, Amazon's Cloud Player for streaming music collections from a personal "locker," and BeCouply for cool date suggestions based on a driver's location. Think of almost anything you need in a car, and there's an app for that. Or there soon will be.

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At CES, Chrysler announced the launch of a dealer-activated navigation system that lets customers opt in to add an embedded system when the vehicle is purchased, or at a later date. The in-car navigation capabilities mean drivers can avoid the clutter created by portable devices and worries about whether a device has been charged. The dealer-activated Uconnect systems will launch this year and debut in the 2013 Ram 1500 full-size pickup, the 2013 SRT Viper and the 2014 Fiat 500L.

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Hyundai revealed at CES that it will incorporate Apple's Siri Eyes Free platform into its vehicles in 2013. After pressing a button on the steering wheel, Hyundai drivers with an iPhone loaded with iOS6 can have Apple's virtual assistant perform a number of tasks while they keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Results that display Web pages will be excluded, but Siri will help drivers with options, including reading and replying to text messages, checking weather conditions and checking stock prices.

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General Motors is the latest automaker to reveal that it will begin crowd sourcing app development for its in-vehicle infotainment systems. By opening up its dashboards to the developer community, GM sets the stage for a new generation of highly customized apps for customers to download. The apps will be supported by infotainment systems in select 2014 vehicles. Developers submit their apps through an online portal and, if approved, GM will assist in the testing and publishing prior to release.

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At the 2013 CES, three-dimensional products were all the rage, with television and other video gadgets adding a third visual dimension. So why not a 3-D car audio system? Premium audio supplier Bang & Olufsen showed off a concept sound system in an Audi Q7 that's designed to "dissolve the geometry of the car" using 3-D algorithms, and allows users to adjust the effect at the touch of a button. The system also boasts 23 loudspeakers powered by more than 1,500 watts of amplification.

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Subaru enters the era of the connected car with the debut of its Starlink connectivity suite, to be introduced on the 2014 Forester and as an upgrade to the 2013 Legacy and Outback. Featuring infotainment, safety and convenience capabilities, Starlink comes out of the gates with Aha's streaming and on-demand radio service, which gives drivers access to thousands of stations and services such as NPR and Slacker. Also integrated is the company's EyeSight driver-assist system, which uses dual cameras to offer safety features ranging from adaptive cruise control to pedestrian detection.

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The mobile lifestyle we increasingly lead requires devices that are equally adaptable. That's what makes the SiriusXM Lynx tuner such a ready-for-prime-time device. The portable radio system is designed to dock in the car or home or to be used as a portable player, making it exceptionally good-to-go. The basic kit powers Wi-Fi Internet radio, while the car dock enables satellite radio. The device is also Bluetooth-enabled and Android-based, featuring a cool user interface to view scrolling presets and deep channel data.

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Today's car buyers expect everything from streaming audio to turn-by-turn navigation when they get behind the wheel, even in low-priced cars. Audio and infotainment giant Harman is cueing up an entry-level connected radio for automakers and their customers. For the same cost of a basic head unit, automakers can now add full-featured infotainment that includes Aha radio and its thousands of stations and podcasts, turn-by-turn navigation and voice prompts, all while supporting multiple portable devices such as smartphones and MP3 players.

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Telematics, the ability of a vehicle to send and receive data such as diagnostics, is one of the hottest buzzwords in the auto industry, and many new vehicles feature the technology. For drivers left out, such as owners of older vehicles, Delphi and Verizon have a solution. The Connected Car system plugs into a vehicle's OBD2 port, giving owners a rich array of features they control from a companion smartphone app. Via a data connection, Bluetooth connectivity and an embedded GPS chip, users can enjoy features ranging from checking the engine temperature to receiving remote warnings if the vehicle exceeds a certain speed.

Doug Newcomb has been writing about automotive-related topics since 1988. His work has appeared in Consumers Digest, Road & Track, Rolling Stone, Men's Journal and many other publications. His book, Car Audio for Dummies, is available from Wiley Publishing.