Mercedes-Benz Goes HD--Radio, That Is

Mercedes says HD Radio will be offered on much of its 2009 model-year lineup, including all of its U.S.-built vehicles-- the M-, R-, and GL-Class utes--along with the G-Class SUV and E-Class lineup of sedans and wagons.

HD Radio, which has been offered on BMWs for a year, takes local radio station signals and beams them digitally, instead of using analog signals. Some radio stations have adopted HD streams for their existing offerings; others have used the new bandwidth to split their programming into several different new formats focused on everything from motorsports to talk radio.

The new Benz head units come standard with a 6.5-inch display and a six-disc DVD changer, as well as Bluetooth. All can be outfitted with Sirius satellite radio and an MP3 player interface, as well as voice activation and navigation.