The automotive industry has certainly undergone a number of big changes, as today’s vehicles are miles ahead in terms of offering impressive technology, gadgetry and features compared to those of just a few years ago. From performance parts to mobile electronics, the auto industry continues to embrace the innovative ideas and advanced technology developed by aftermarket manufacturers and aimed at enthusiast buyers.

Before the average minivan or luxury car came equipped with any form of multimedia, hard drive, navigation or Bluetooth features, there were tuners out there rocking it first and often in far more complex installations. Our passionate thirst for custom in-car-entertainment is what helps advance current mobile technology to the next level. Our enthusiast community fuels future trends and it’s about time we realize the important impact our culture has on bringing such new products to the mainstream market.

GET CONNECTED
Today’s car is becoming increasingly intelligent to the point where a Lexus can now parallel park for itself and high tech traction and stability control make even the lousiest driver look like a number one stunner. Advanced technology is here to stay and so are the many convenient gadgets we’ve all be waiting for.

Connectivity is the key, as even base model cars now offer all of the latest high tech toys. Hands-free Bluetooth calling is becoming the standard in most vehicles and becoming legally mandatory in several areas for valid safety reasons. Many user-friendly and very cost effective aftermarket products are available to easily upgrade any vehicle to the latest Bluetooth enabled devices. In most cases these products cost far less than the fine you risk receiving for not having hands-free calling in your ride.The days of bulky and difficult to use hands-free car kits are a thing of the past, as these modern devices offer seamless OEM integration and more importantly safe, intuitive operation. As anticipated, hands-free and voice activated dialing will soon be the standard for drivers everywhere.

As consumers and enthusiasts, we’ve also quickly embraced and integrated the convenience of GPS navigation products into everyday life and gladly said goodbye to the days of bulky maps and incorrect or illegible written directions. I still remember when the very first forms of GPS navigation came to market… they were big, sluggish and dreadfully confusing. Although early nav products were as bizarre and basic as an oversized 80s cell phone, the GPS technology and map-based practicality gave us a glimpse at the exciting future potential of portable navigation technology. Navigation systems are now found in a number of new cars and if a dealership can’t offer it to you at an attractive price, then the aftermarket is always ready to provide – often offering much better performance and many more features including live traffic updates for significantly less money. Add-ons like satellite radio or connectivity for MP3 players are also found standard on many vehicles and nearly every aftermarket head unit. Almost every CD player is MP3-ready and higher end systems even offer integrated hard drives, granting storage space for your entire music library of albums, artists and song titles.

THE NEXT STEP
Based on the products and services we’ve seen at events like the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the next big step seems to be fully functional mobile computing and high-speed internet. We can’t wait to see the doors open as this technology goes mainstream and you can bet the aftermarket industry has a few tricks up its sleeve and are ready to lead the charge.
By taking just a quick glimpse of what might soon become standard equipment in the future, the thoughts of having access to all of your files, websites, email and more in the comfort of your vehicle will soon be a reality. Safety, reliability, entertainment, communication and efficiency could soon become more important than the actual mechanics under the hood.
As the largest mobile electronics and performance magazine in the scene, PAS has always delivered the very essence of our culture. Our dedicated team will continue to successfully blend the latest mobile electronics with tire-shredding high-performance in a complete package that has never been more intense. All of us are looking forward to the future potential of our industry and the aftermarket seems to continue reinventing itself through innovation and new technology.