“Device-and-app solutions like Automatic and Mojio mean more cars can get to the cloud.
Today, almost any car built after 1996 can join the connected car revolution thanks to aftermarket solutions. We’ve spent the past year or so trying out a couple of such devices, one from Automatic and another from Mojio. Using a 2005 Saab 9-2x Aero as our test vehicle, we set out to discover if it was truly possible to have all the connected luxury of today without shelling out for an entirely new vehicle.
Our experience with both devices over the past year has been almost entirely positive. Neither device caused a noticeable change in our driving or fuel economy, but having easy access to trip-level efficiency has been satisfying if only for curiosity’s sake.
There are other aftermarket connected car systems out there, including ones from Delphi (who also supplied the tech behind GM’s OnStar) and Verizon. And we have to wonder, given Apple’s recent interest in the auto industry and the natural integration with smartphones, could Cupertino be planning to Sherlock everyone? Cars Technica plans to keep an eye on this market and periodically check in on the state of connected cars for the rest of us.”
Read the full article at arstechnica.com.