Vehicle Specific Tablet Adds to Factory Radio

Feature Story:

UNAVI is offering an 8-inch Android tablet add-on that lets you keep the factory radio in Hyundai and Kia vehicles, with other vehicles likely to follow.

UNAVI, an integration company, has soft launched a new X9 series that converts radios with 3 and 4 inch screens and that lack new features such as Android Auto and CarPlay, into full functioning tablet/radios that retain all factory functions.

“We take the factory bezel out and remove the radio, then take the front faceplate off that radio….the factory radio goes into the dash, recessed back an inch or so and our tablet goes over it, topping it with an 8-inch tablet,” said UNAVI’s Robert Bridges.

The install is plug and play with no wire cutting.

The tablet can work with a phone’s hotspot for 4G service. Users can download apps such as Waze or Google Maps from the Google Play store.  When parked, drivers can access full tablet functions.  Users can also view dashcam video on the tablet screen. Some cars, through an OBD2 reader will also allow car performance data to appear on the tablet screen.  Even certain home security apps will show footage on the tablet screen so you can see who’s ringing your doorbell.

The X9 uses a quad core 1.6GHz processor and runs Android KitKat.  The screen has a resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels.  The X9 offers WiFi capability with built-in Bluetooth 4.0.

Suggested retail price is $1499 to $1599.

Compatible vehicles at present (with more to be added) include:

• 2016+ Sorento with 4.5” LCD and OEM backup camera NO UVO (UVO and standard radio soon to come)
• 2016+ Optima with 4.5” LCD and OEM backup camera NO UVO (UVO and standard radio soon to come)
• 2016+ Sedona with 4.5” LCD and OEM backup camera NO UVO (UVO and standard radio soon to come)
• 2013+ Santa Fe with 4.5” LCD and OEM backup camera NO UVO (UVO and standard radio soon to come)
• 2017+ Kia Soul with 5” LCD and with or without OEM backup camera