CES 2016: Kenwood and JVC Introduce New CarPlay and Apple Music Systems

In addition to Pioneer and JBL, Kenwood and JVC have announced new aftermarket CarPlay systems at CES 2016. Kenwood's new CarPlay receivers build upon its existing eXcelon lineup, while JVC's flagship KW-V820BT model is the brand's first CarPlay-enabled multimedia unit.

Kenwood's lineup of 15 new multimedia receivers feature upgraded processors for improved stability and faster startup, a new graphic user interface, and customizable aspects like shortcuts and background wallpapers. Regarding CarPlay, Kenwood mentioned the total number of models that support Apple's system has been boosted from four to eight, "encompassing the four new topline models across KENWOOD and KENWOOD eXcelon."

JVC CarPlay

JVC's new CarPlay-supported KW-V820BT model

For the JVC model, the company noted that its KW-V820BT system has been upgraded with high-resolution audio playback, three sets of 4-volt RCA outputs, and a built-in, 50-watt x 4 MOSFET amplifier, which JVC said makes the new experience "an ideal factory radio replacement." All of this is in addition to CarPlay, which will grant users the usual array of access to Apple's ecosystem of navigation, phone calls, and music, all with a connected iPhone.

“Apple CarPlay is just now beginning to gain momentum in the marketplace,” said JVC Mobile Marketing Manager Hazim Jainoor. “We feel we are entering the market at the ideal time with the KW-V820BT, and with a feature set that really presents drivers with a premium choice for that coveted space in the dash.”

In addition to CarPlay support, JVC also announced integrated service with both Spotify and Apple Music during CES this week. After communicating with a connected iPhone, Apple Music subscribers will be able to access all of their saved playlists, radio stations, and songs on the new JVC system. Although Spotify will be made available on all of the company's systems, Apple Music will see one exclusion on the KW-V620BT model.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Popular Stories

Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Monday July 8, 2024 5:00 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 'Slim': Everything We Know So Far

Friday July 5, 2024 5:13 am PDT by
In 2025, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone "Slim" – although it may not actually be called this when it debuts in the fall of next year. Even though the iPhone 16 series launch is still over two months away, when you consider that we learned about larger displays on the iPhone 16 Pro models way back in May 2023, rumors...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 3

Monday July 8, 2024 12:54 pm PDT by
With the third betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that Apple released today, there are additional tweaks to a number of features like Dark Mode icons, the Photos app, emoji in Messages, and more, with Apple appearing to be preparing for the launch of Apple Intelligence. Apple will continue updating iOS 18‌ over the course of the next couple of months, refining the beta prior to its launch....
f1662570472

Report: Apple Watch Series 10 to Offer Larger Screens and Faster Chip, but New Health Features in Trouble

Sunday July 7, 2024 8:31 am PDT by
The Apple Watch Series 10 will feature a larger display and a new chip, but new health monitoring features for the device are now in question, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the design of the Apple Watch Series 10 is "unlikely to look much different" to its predecessor, but it will be thinner. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch...
iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2

Apple Leak Confirms Four iPhone 16 Models With Same A18 Chip

Tuesday July 2, 2024 9:48 am PDT by
Code discovered in Apple's backend by Nicolás Alvarez and shared with MacRumors confirms Apple's plans to release four iPhone 16 models this year, and it indicates that the devices will all have the same A-series chip. There are mentions of new model numbers that are not associated with existing iPhones, and that have the numbering scheme Apple uses for its flagship devices. The code...
macbook pro blue

Best Buy Takes Up to $500 Off M3 MacBook Pro in New Sale

Sunday July 7, 2024 10:40 am PDT by
Best Buy this weekend is offering a big selection of discounts on Apple's late 2023 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, with up to $500 off select models. These deals are available to all shoppers and do not require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps...

Top Rated Comments

squirrrl Avatar
111 months ago
Why is everyone so hot and bothered for wireless?

First, having to plug in a single wire and putting the phone away is not a big deal. The car is probably the only place where a short wire would not bother at all.

Second, you shouldn't be playing with your phone in a car anyway, focus on driving! What exactly are people doing that a single wire is getting in the way so much with CarPlay?

Third, don't you want to charge your phone while in the car?
1) I'm guessing you don't have kids. My morning, I make a stop to get coffee (4 minutes in the car), I make a stop to drop my kid off at daycare (10 minutes in the car), then drive to work (15 more minutes). I COULD leave my phone plugged in the car while i'm out getting coffee, dropping off my kid, etc.., but I use my phone to buy my coffee and i might want it when i'm dropping off my kid in case I have to add something to my schedule, etc... I also don't want to leave my phone in the car in view in case I tempt someone to break in my car and take it. I end up listening to the radio because plugging and unplugging my iPhone becomes tedious.

2) This is the point, right. If you could leave your phone in your pocket, and not have to fiddle with taking the lightning cable out, connecting, etc... and it just connected automatically (like the bluetooth phone answering thing does in my car), then that's a MORE hands-free experience, not less!

3) I don't drive long distances and my commute usually doesn't involve traffic (luckily enough) so I don't need to have my phone plugged in.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oneMadRssn Avatar
111 months ago
Why is everyone so hot and bothered for wireless?

First, having to plug in a single wire and putting the phone away is not a big deal. The car is probably the only place where a short wire would not bother at all.

Second, you shouldn't be playing with your phone in a car anyway, focus on driving! What exactly are people doing that a single wire is getting in the way so much with CarPlay?

Third, don't you want to charge your phone while in the car?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oneofakind Avatar
111 months ago
I still see nothing in regards to Wireless CarPlay! So disappointed since Apple announced it like a year ago
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Menel Avatar
111 months ago
Why is everyone so hot and bothered for wireless?

First, having to plug in a single wire and putting the phone away is not a big deal. The car is probably the only place where a short wire would not bother at all.

Second, you shouldn't be playing with your phone in a car anyway, focus on driving! What exactly are people doing that a single wire is getting in the way so much with CarPlay?

Third, don't you want to charge your phone while in the car?
20min commute doesn't need a charge. Phone shouldn't even need to leave pocket! The idea is NOT playing with the phone while driving.

But still having traffic conditions on screen.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cuhulin Avatar
111 months ago
I still see nothing in regards to Wireless CarPlay! So disappointed since Apple announced it like a year ago
[doublepost=1452410953][/doublepost]Volkswagon reportedly was stopped from introducing wireless carplay at this year's CES. My guess is that most of the third party companies have wireless but weren't allowed to discuss it until Apple introduces it.

It will be nice to know, though.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
d21mike Avatar
111 months ago
I still see nothing in regards to Wireless CarPlay! So disappointed since Apple announced it like a year ago
I came here to ask the very same question. So there are NO Wireless Models from anyone. How about all the 2016 New Cars with Car Play. Are any of them Wireless? If not, anybody know what it normal these days regarding "mounts". Do you have to manually plug in your iPhone and just lay it somewhere? Just interested in how nice the connections are.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)