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Apple CarPlay in a Lotus Cabin Is More Difficult But Certainly Not Impossible

As I’ve said so many times before, upgrading pretty much any car out there with CarPlay and Android Auto is something that comes down to the simple installation of an aftermarket unit that ships with such capabilities.
Apple CarPlay in Lotus Exige 11 photos
Photo: Instagram user g4exg
2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport2017 Lotus Exige 410 Sport
But at the same time, it’s also not a secret that some interiors make the whole thing a lot mode difficult, simply because there’s not enough room on the dashboard or the console to install such a unit.

The struggle is also caused by these aftermarket head units, which typically come with large touchscreens allowing for easy interaction with systems like CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Lotus Exige is the perfect example of a car where installing an aftermarket unit with touch support isn’t really the most straightforward thing to do, but as someone on Instagram proves, you can still do it with the right components.

The upgrade we see here uses a Pioneer SPH-EVO62DAB-UNI unit that was easily installed in the place where the factory radio was originally mounted, and it’s all thanks to the way Pioneer built this model, as it’s specifically created for cars where a 1 DIN slot is offered.

In other words, yes, installing an aftermarket unit with CarPlay support in a Lotus is harder but certainly not impossible if you use the correct approach.

The Pioneer head unit used on this Lotus comes with a 6.8-inch display that can be installed in a standard 1-DIN opening. It comes with support for both Android Auto and CarPlay, and also features a few extras, such as Bluetooth support for easy paring of your smartphone and one USB port should you want to listen to music stored on a USB drive.

The best thing is that it also comes with an input for a rear camera, which means that you can also connect a parking camera to the head unit and see real-time images on the screen.

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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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