There was nowhere to...
There was nowhere to hide for car makers in March when we published our 2008 Driver Power satisfaction survey results in Issue 1,004.
Danish hi-fi pioneers...
Danish hi-fi pioneers Bang & Olufsen have made their first system for the in-car market. The lucky recipient of their design expertise is the Audi A8, and the sound spec is impressively high - a 14 speaker system supplies over 1,000 watts of power, shoved out by the ICEpower amp, and B&O"s Acoustic Lens technology ensures that higher frequencies are evenly dispersed throughout the car interior.
The moving Acoustic Lenses rise out of the dashboard, and radiate sound through 180 degrees, ensuring that all the passengers get a full stereo experience.
"The sound quality of the new system matches the best high-end stereos for the home," says the managing director of Bang & Olufsen UK, Derek Mottershead.
The option costs ÷£3,775 on the S8, and ÷£4,500 on all other A8 models.
Meanwhile, Alpine has announced a custom-made digital 5.1 surround sound system for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. It comprises a new Ultra Reflex subwoofer technology, and a 700 watt amp that uses Dolby Pro Logic II home cinema technology to put surround sound in the car.
Alpine"s sales and marketing director Dave Sheen said: "many Aston Martin owners are real audio enthusiasts who enjoy listening to music on high end systems. The audio experience in the Vantage must therefore perform."