My company is developing the industry's first line of factory replacement headunits. They require no dash kit and wiring harness on various model vehicles which are entirely "Bolt-n-Replace" with factory look, often factory functionality as well as like steering wheel controls and in-demand features like Bluetooth, Navigation, iPod, XM, Sirius Satellite and DVD. We need Sound Solutions Audio to help us strategize which features and model vehicles would be best.

We're launching next month with models for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Buick, Chevy, Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn, Suzuki, Toyota, Scion and Volkswagen with more to follow and want to ensure that we have the most in-demand features and functions. . .

I need to know what other features would be good as standard or add-on. I would really like some feedback on what anyone thinks. We also have some multi-media pieces we are developing that similar features. Some are double-din; some are single-din with motorized 7" screens. Thoughts?

A processor with TA for 8 channels , flexable crossover with adjustable slopes and frequency for each channel , and at least a 5 band peq right and left would be a big selling point for me. Shortly after I got done wiping the drool from my chin

I'll brain-storm on it a bit... but that is an excellent idea, especially with the crazy integration you see today with the OEM radios!

going to try to keep the stock look?

I'm always the skeptic, so. . .

I personally have no faith in this from a sales point of view. Your target market is going to be a very small portion of the aftermarket section. Most of the public who are buying head units are more interested in the bling and just having something different. While I think it's an ingenious idea if implemented properly, I don't foresee many people lining up for this outside of the small percentage of hardcore DIYers who like the stealth approach.

I am with ryan. I just wish he wasn't right.

I think it will go very well... some OEM radios simply CANNOT be replaced. For instance... the late model Sunfire... you have to retain and relocate the OEM radio due to integration! An all-in-one solution would be awesome... and think about some of the newest stuff -- Mazda3 for instance... the whole center dash is one piece, that is hellacious to replace.

I think it's a killer idea for very new cars... older cars not so much, but brand new cars with crazy integration, defiantly.

The level of ingegration found in the new Nissans and Infinitis is crazy as well. As jacob mentioned with the Mazdas, the center of the dash is one big piece. The radio is nothing more than a slot for CD loading with an eject button. The controls are all integrated into the car's computer and accessed by a 7" touchcsreen which also displays everything for the car. In the case of my wife's G35 that includes nav functions, HVAC status, radio data, the view from the backup camera and a whole bunch of other stuff. As good as the factory radio is for integration and features though (single disc in-dash, six-disc changer in the trunk, 9Gb hard drive hat you can fill with mp3s that the car will rip from CDs loaded in the front player, compact flash port in the dash for music or video files, video and audio inputs in the center console for a portable DVD player and a bunch of other stuff) it doesn't have the capability to add iPod control without losing satellite radio (which interfaces with the nav system to give traffic and construction info) and it is a Bose system which means the sound is only OK, far from good. I'm beginning to shy away from getting a G37 for myself because of a lack of a way to integrate aftermarket amps and speakers in an elegant manner and the inability to retain all the vehicle integration that's there from the factory such as voice control of the radio and the touchscreen interface.

I think that there is a market out there, and probably a bigger one than most people think. It is also wholly untapped so getting the full share of that market would be fairly easy. The problem I see is that each unit is going to be so car model specific in most cases that it's going to almost fall into the realm of custom order to retain any possibility of business profitability. You're also going to have to have solid internals to base the units on (ie from one of the major aftermarket companies) and the best of what both the aftermarket and the OEM have to offer from the perspective of features. Convenience feature such as voice activation (for the luxury market) hard drives, etc. as well as tuning features such as full crossovers with time alignment and EQ functions are going to be a must. Go ahead and through in DVD-A support and 5.1 support as well. Because the volume for each model is going to be small, you'll need to have all the features on every unit for that car if you plan to "mass" produce. Some customers won't use all the features for their particular install but it would allow your company to function and offer models for more cars without getting bogged down with a ton of sub models for each car that won't sell enough volume to make the sub model profitable. If you're going the custom order route, you could simply have a list of available functions and features that the customer would choose from when ordering. The problem I see with the latter route is that you would probably price yourself out of the market. Tooling costs for that would drive your manufacturing costs through the roof.

I for one think its a great idea. I think you're going to have some trouble with the execution unless you keep the list of supported vehicles small. I would also limit it to vehicles that are difficult to integrate with via traditional methods.

I would definitely buy depending on cost and features. I like Ramos wish list lol.

I too like Ramos's wish list and without it would never buy one. Of course, I fit in the DIY'er label pretty well. I am also doubtful about the market.

I couldn't see myself getting one, although I don't see myself buying a car that was made in this century anytime soon either...