Aftermarket action
A Defender for the faithful
The original Land Rover Defender, which hasn’t been sold in North America in more than two decades (a new model arrives for 2020), remains a sought-after offroader. Himalaya, a company that specializes in restoring and repurposing older Land Rovers and similar classic utility vehicles, has added the four-door Defender 110-series to its offerings. Using original body panels and frames, Himalaya installs 525-horsepower 6.3-liter V-8 engines and six-speed automatic transmissions. Also included are modern disc brakes, air conditioning and custom interiors. The $250,000 price tag for the Defender 110 includes a two-year/24,000-mile powertrain warranty. Complete details are available at www.drivehimalaya.com.
Ground-effects lighting
Puddle lights that illuminate the ground when you open your vehicle doors are found on many luxury automobiles. The aftermarket lights created by LukeCar also project automaker logos. The company sells lights for practically any make of vehicle, including Ferrari, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar (to name a few) as well as for more common brands such as Chevrolet, Ford Toyota and Honda. Each unit attaches to the inside door panel using 3M adhesive (which means no drilling required) and will automatically light up whenever the door is opened. Three AAA batteries are required. Order for about $15 per door at www.lukecar.com.
Wireless charging for all
If your vehicle didn’t come with a wireless charging pad, you can add one. iOttie makes The Easy One Touch 2 wireless charger system that also doubles as a cellphone mount. The company sells three different versions: A dash and windshield mount; an air-vent mount; and a slot mount that you insert into a CD player. The iOttie plugs into your vehicle’s USB port and can be pivoted for the best viewing angle. The product also works with most smart phones of varying sizes, including Samsung, LG, Sony and other Android models, as well as Apple iPhone 8 or newer. All Easy One Touch products are priced at $55 and can be ordered from www. iottie.com.
A solid backup plan
If your vehicle lacks a backupwarning system, you can add one. The Smart Wireless Parking Sensor from FenSens provides backup assistance for literally any make, model, or year of vehicle. The solarpowered unit consists of a Bluetoothenabled licence-plate bracket with sensors that can detect objects up to 10 feet away. The visual parking cues are provided by a smart phone app (Android or iOS/Siri-compatible) that also sounds a warning as you approach objects. An air-vent mount is included. Order Smart Wireless Parking Sensor for about $200 from Amazon or Best Buy stores, or directly from www. fensens.com.