Holden faces music

HOLDEN will be the first carmaker in Australia to bring the Pandora internet music service to cars.

From January, its $15,990 Barina hatchback will be the first car to put internet music within reach of buyers on a budget.

Until now, internet radio has been exclusive to luxury cars and topend versions of the Toyota Camry.

‘‘We are very proud to the first carmaker in Australia to offer Pandora,’’ Holden boss Mike Devereux says.

Pandora makes available millions of songs at the press of a button and enables listeners to create their own ‘‘stations’’.

The system detects s i m i l a r music and suggests alternatives.

Listeners can accept or reject songs while on the go.

‘‘Pandora will eventua l l y make i t s way through a l l Holden models,’’ Holden director of sales and marketing John Elsworth says.

Pandora also puts a navigation system into the Barina.

It operates through a smartphone’s internet connection.