Could Dolby Atmos be the future of in-car audio?
Hyundai is bringing Dolby Atmos to its affordable Elexio SUV, setting a new standard for in-car entertainment.
Turning cars into sound studios
Dolby Atmos is coming to Hyundai’s latest SUV, the Elexio. It’s Hyundai’s first fully electric SUV for the Chinese market and arrives with Dolby Atmos as standard. That’s a move that could signal a new chapter for in-car audio systems.
Dolby Atmos is designed to give listeners a more rich and immersive listening experience. The Elexio comes with six built-in speakers, all of which support Dolby Atmos. Those wanting a little extra can upgrade with the BOSE external amplifier, expanding the setup to eight speakers for even more depth and clarity.
Streaming services such as Kuguo Music and iQIYI are integrated directly in the car, making it even easier to become immersed in your favorite music. It’s not just about music though. Dolby makes it clear that passengers can also enjoy movies and dramas in Dolby Atmos in their cars, effectively “transforming the car cabin into an entertainment hub on wheels”.
Making immersive audio accessible
As The Verge points out, up until now, spatial audio experiences like Dolby Atmos have mostly been confined to luxury models when it comes to cars. Dolby Atmos-inclusive models from Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, Cadillac, and Lucid have all had hefty price tags north of $70,000
With the Elexio, Hyundai is breaking that barrier. The SUV, launching exclusively in China for now, is priced between $16,800 and $21,000. That makes the Dolby Atmos in-car audio much more accessible for a listening experience that was once reserved for luxury vehicles.
The road ahead
Hyundai says it looks forward to bringing this “innovative experience to more models and customers around the world”. However, whether they plan on integrating Dolby Atmos to vehicles in other markets any time soon remains to be seen.
Still, the Elexio feels like a glimpse into the future where immersive, richer sound is standard part of every drive.