Since their launch in the mid-decade, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay needed a physical USB connection for operating. But, the boom of in-vehicle multimedia systems has updated versions with wireless integration being offered on both platforms. In the short span of a few years, the wireless integration of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay has turned from rare to widespread in car models. Although for either integration, most cars still need the traditional tethered USB connection, numerous models are now coming up with wireless options.

The Supporting Cars

BMW was the first carmaker company to offer wireless Apple CarPlay on selected models starting with their 2017 model year. Over the next few years several other coveted brands like Acura, Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Lincoln, Maserati, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, etc. joined the party. Still, the vast majority of both platforms require a USB connection to date. But, it won’t be wrong to state that the availability of a wireless smartphone integration feature for both platforms has increased quite considerably since 2019, thanks to the emergence of in-vehicle Wi-Fi systems.

The Wi-Fi Connection

For wireless integration, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay need in-car Wi-Fi, as traditional Bluetooth alone is not that robust. Bluetooth is enough to stream music or to enable phone calls, but it supports a relatively small amount of data at the end. The platforms require a stronger connection to get a powerful impetus. Wi-Fi is connected via an in-vehicle router to the multimedia system and can accommodate comparatively more data. According to J.D. Power’s global director of automotive David Amodeo, Wi-Fi connection is the only wireless protocol which offers enough bandwidth to support phone mirroring.

The Primary Downside

According to experts, such data-intensive connection kills the battery. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay exact a heavy drain, and that’s why the phones have up to now been tethered to conventional USB ports. The problem is still persistent with wireless options but at a lower rate. As a robust charging source, wireless charging pads have come to the rescue. This feature has now flourished across the automotive industry, especially in cars featuring wireless Apple CarPlay only, as they need it more than others. Over the last two to three years, luxury automaker brands like Chen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and the like have focused on expanding either of the wireless platforms to be integrated into the in-vehicle multimedia systems of their recent line-up. Industry experts predict that the expansion will grow slowly over the next couple of years.

The luxury SUV Range Rover has revealed its latest generation in late October. The new 2022 Range Rover model was looked really handsome on the announcement photos, but the true depths of its detailing have become clear only now, after its US launch prior to the LA Auto Show 2021. Including the standard ‘big and brash’ style of luxury SUVs, this upscale Range Rover recipe is a class-apart one. Here are a few salient features of this unique model.

The Power-Packed Performance

This new model comes in a glossy uninterrupted design. But there’s more to this eye-candy outlook. It boasts active aero, a 0.30 coefficient of drag, and automatic lowering at speed, making the model 12% more aerodynamically slippery than its peers in the market. Also, Land Rover has successfully attempted to place the Range Rover into the world of this new age of electrification. Arriving next year, the plug-in hybrid is expected to include a 38.2 kWh battery, enough for getting around 62 miles. Moreover, the fully-electric version of Range Rover will make its debut in coming 2024.

The Intriguing Interior

The Land Rover is also covering a wide array of luxury features. As the SUV line’s first 7-seater, the new 2022 Range Rover is quite roomy and has long wheelbase transportation. The same transporter is also included in the SV version of Range Rover. This lavish 4-seater incorporates the signature suit cabin in its design, with more than 3 feet of legroom to stretch out comfortably in the rear. The 5-seaters come with both long and short wheelbase options and the brand’s signature three-strong array of launch engines. The familiar luxury cabin also stretches to include more ambitious materials like recycled fabrics and near-aniline leather, giving a furniture hide-like feel to the upholstery.