Audiovox Launches Intellicar Brand At CES

LAS VEGAS — Audiovox launched a new car stereo brand at International CES called Intellicar by Jensen. Intellicar products will include advanced car A/V receivers capped by an in-dash car computer called the Nav PC. It includes a 40GB hard drive, DVD ROM and 1GHz processor with 512MB of memory, GPS antenna and navigation software. It is expected to ship in March at a suggested retail price of $1,699.

Four other in-dash DVD/monitors will fall under the Intellicar line, all with built-in TV tuners, built-in Bluetooth (without the need for an adapter), iPod, XM and navigation capability. The new Intellicar head units will start at $999 suggest retail price.

Audiovox also showed new overhead monitors with changeable trim plates to match OEM car interiors, each with 51 embedded video games and controllers.

Also introduced was one of the first portable media player (PMP) based headrest video systems. The system includes a pair of headrests, one with a built-in DVD player and one with a docking slot for a PMP, which the user can snap out and use as an audio player or to view video. The Audiovox PMP will be available in 20GB or 40GB with MP3/WMA/MPEG-4/DiVX and other format capabilities. The headrest/DVD/PMP system is expected to be available in May at a suggested retail price of $1,199.

Further, as the exclusive supplier of the new XM Passport mini tuners, at $29.99, (see story p. 8) Audiovox said the next generation of Passport tuners to be offered in the not-too-distant future, will include XM NavTraffic reception.