Pioneer Offers Branded OEM Systems
By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 4/15/2002
NEW YORK— Pioneer announced that it will offer branded premium audio systems for two car makers, following in the tradition of Delco-Bose and more recently Sony-Ford.
The company will provide branded sound systems for Toyota's new SCION line of vehicles that were announced at the New York Auto Show here last week. The systems will include six speakers and will accept an optional six-disc in-dash CD changer and satellite radio tuner. Pioneer has also developed new DSP sound processing technology, also called SCION, for the new vehicles. No further system details were announced.
The new SCION cars will be launched in June 2003 and will be aimed at 16-to 24-year-old drivers. SCION will be sold through Toyota dealerships rather than dedicated SCION dealers (as with Toyota's premium Lexus line). Toyota forecasts that 100,000 SCION cars will be sold in its first year.
In addition, Pioneer has signed an agreement with Ford to offer branded systems in two limited edition vehicles — the 2002 Pioneer Ford Explorer Sport Trac and the 2002 Ford Ranger Tremor.
The audio system for both vehicles includes 485 watts maximum power, nine speakers, double DIN radio/cassette/CD player and 4-channel bridgeable amplifier.
Both vehicles will also have a custom subwoofer enclosure — an 8-inch IMPP model with 11.5-liter enclosure in the Pioneer Edition Sport Trac and a 10-inch version with 35-liter enclosure in the Ranger Tremor.
