The First Aftermarket Wireless CarPlay System, Alpine's iLX-107, Hits the Market
After first being announced at CES in January, the Alpine iLX-107 aftermarket Apple CarPlay system is now avaialble to purchase for $900. It’s the first wireless aftermarket CarPlay system that doesn’t require an iPhone to be plugged in to an attached Lightning cable to operate.
The iLX-107 uses Wi-Fi to connect to an iPhone.
Featuring a 7-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, the system allows iPhone users to receive calls, access text messages, play music, and get directions optimized for traffic conditions while focusing on the road. Users can also interact with the unit through Siri.
While the unit itself costs $900, there will be other costs related toward installation into specific vehicle. If you’re intereted, Alpine has a list of authorized retailers who can also install a unit.
CarPlay has been on the market since 2014 and is included in a number of new vehicles and third-party systems. Currently, only the 2017 BMW 5 Series and 3 Series Sedan offers integrated wireless CarPlay.
I’ve been using a wired CarPlay system in my vehicle for a few years, and while it’s definitely handy for road trips, I sometimes don’t go to the hassle of plugging my iPhone in during short trips. The prevelance of more wireless CarPlay systems should allow more iPhone users to take advanatage of the technology.